Lens attachment for a high etendue modular zoom lens

ABSTRACT

A lens attachment module is configured for coupling with a zoom module of a finite conjugate optical assembly. The lens attachment module includes a lens assembly that has a positive focal length, and exhibits a pupil size of between 16 and 25 mm and a pupil depth greater than 50 mm.

PRIORITY AND RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/881,681, filed Jan. 26, 2018, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,401,598; whichclaims the benefit of priority to U.S. provisional patent applicationsSer. Nos. 62/451,060, filed Jan. 26, 2017 and 62/451,622, filed Jan. 27,2017, which are incorporated by reference.

This application is one of seven contemporaneously-filed applications bythe same Applicant and Inventor that are entitled: High Etendue ZoomLens, Ser. No. 15/881,277; High Etendue Modular Zoom Lens for MachineVision, Ser. No. 15/881,504; High Etendue Lens Assembly with Large ZoomRange, Ser. No. 15/881,594; High Etendue Modular Lens Assembly withAfocal Zoom, Ser. No. 15/881,638; A Lens Attachment for a High EtendueModular Zoom Lens, Ser. No. 15/881,681, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,401,598;and A Rear Adapter for a High Etendue Modular Zoom Lens, Ser. No.15/881,717. Each of these priority and related applications is herebyincorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates generally to a lens attachment for an optical zoomlens assembly for use in combination with a camera or eyepiece, for thepurpose of viewing and inspecting objects. More specifically theinvention relates to a lens attachment for an optical assembly or a lensassembly having the characteristics of having high optical etenduepreserving characteristics, broad wavelength correction, or a large zoomrange, or combinations thereof.

2. Description of the Related Art

The history of long working distance finite conjugate lenses with alarge zoom range goes back many decades. Bausch and Lomb used a zoommodule in their Stereo Zoom 4 through 7 models, which started beingproduced in 1959. The most commonly produced scope had a 0.7×-3×magnification range, for a ratio of highest magnification (e.g., 3×) tolowest magnification (e.g., 0.7×), of 3/0.7, or approximately 4.3, whichmay be written as 4.3:1. FIG. 1 shows an eyepiece pod for a conventionalBausch and Lomb StereoZoom4 with 0.7-3× magnification range. FIG. 2shows a full stereo microscope stand for a conventional Bausch and LombStereoZoom4.

Even at this time the idea of modularity, defined as a pod, wasintroduced to allow the stereo microscope head to be used on multiplestands and stages. This product was targeted to work with eyepiecemagnifiers, which define the limited field of view required, and thelimited amount of NA required to achieve vision limited resolution ofaround 2 arc-min per optical line pairs.

Technological innovations over time, particularly in the 1980s,eventually progressed along two product development paths, whichcontinue to be in production through the present. One path has involvedcontinued use within stereomicroscopes. An example of a conventionalJeweler's StereoZoom microscope that is still in use today is providedat FIG. 3. The stereo microscope shown in FIG. 3 has a ratio of highestto lowest magnification of 6.5:1, often using a zoom cell withapproximately 0.7-4.5× magnification range. An optical assembly inaccordance with FIG. 3 can be used with varying eyepiece magnifiers andBarlow lenses to adjust the visual magnification. Another path hasinvolved use of a very similar zoom cell with 6.5:1 ratio of highest tolowest magnification in a monocular arrangement in a video system. Thesesystems functioned to image objects or scenes onto a sensor of up toapproximately 11 mm on the diagonal, commonly referred to as a ⅔ inchformat camera. This field of view (FOV), along with the approximatelymaximum rear numerical aperture (NA) of 0.0388, has remainedapproximately consistent with the original stereo microscope designs. Itis recognized herein by the present inventor that these cameras, ifutilized to their fullest extent or otherwise optimized for maximumperformance quality or efficiency, may in principle achieve a maximumetendue of 0.45 mm²sr (square millimeters steradians) with less than 10%vignetting.

FIGS. 4A-4C schematically illustrate an example of an optical assemblythat may achieve an approximate etendue of 0.45 mm²sr with less than 10%vignetting. Three arrangements are illustrated schematically in FIGS.4A-4C, including a low magnification arrangement at FIG. 4A, a mid-levelmagnification arrangement at FIG. 4B, and a high magnificationarrangement at FIG. 4C. The optical arrangements shown in FIGS. 4A-4Ceach include, from object end to image end of the lens assembly, a firststatic pair of doublets G10, G20, a first movable doublet G30, a secondmovable doublet G50, and a second static pair of doublets G60, G70. Thepositions of the movable doublets G30, G50 relative to each of thestatic doublets G10, G20, G60, G70 is adjustable for selecting amagnification within a range between a lowest and highest magnificationof the optical assembly of FIGS. 4A-4C.

The possibility is recognized herein by the present inventor that, witha notable loss of relative illumination and/or increased aberration, alarger sensor, e.g., having a 16 mm diagonal, or one inch (1″) format,may be combined with the optical assembly of FIGS. 4A-4C such that anapproximately same optical assembly as that used in a monocular videosystem may provide images to a one inch format sensor field in a camerathat can operate in an etendue range above 0.45 mm²sr up toapproximately 0.95 mm²sr. Such a camera would likely exhibit, however,all else being equal, significantly less than optimal viewingperformance or reduced illumination at the outer portions of the field,or both. In the instance of vignetting or loss of illumination at thefull diagonal field, a reduction in the angular light cone wouldmathematically reduce the highest achievable etendue of the opticalassembly of FIGS. 4A-4C to less than the 0.95 mm²sr.

It is desired to have a camera that includes an optical assembly that isconfigured to exhibit a reduction in loss of optical quality with lessthan 10% vignetting in an etendue range above 0.95 mm²sr. It is furtherdesired to have such a camera and optical assembly that are configuredfor operation in the approximately 0.95-4.65 mm²sr etendue range, andparticularly such a camera and optical assembly that also exhibitsenhanced performance, such as may be demonstrated by a reduction in lossof optical quality with less than 10% vignetting.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional eyepiece pod for Bausch and LombStereoZoom4 with 0.7-3× magnification range.

FIG. 2 illustrates a conventional full stereo microscope stand forBausch and Lomb StereoZoom4.

FIG. 3 illustrates a conventional Jeweler's StereoZoom microscope.

FIGS. 4A-4C schematically illustrate a conventional optical assembly fora microscope finite conjugate imaging system that exhibits an etendue ofapproximately 0.45 mm²sr.

FIGS. 5A-5C schematically illustrate a first example embodiment of acore zoom module (m2 in FIG. 27A) or afocal zoom module of an opticalassembly of a finite conjugate system that exhibits in this firstexample a ratio of highest to lowest magnification of 7:1 and anapproximate etendue of 1.57 mm²sr, and includes in this first example astatic positive group G201, a negative movable group G301, a positivemovable group G401, a negative movable group G501, and a static positivegroup G601, which may be configured in accordance with the exampleoptical prescription set forth at Table 1. A “static” group is not“movable” relative to other static lens groups during ordinary operationof the optical assembly, nor is a static group movable relative to otherstatic or fixed elements such as an image sensor, housing, camera mountor other components that are not movable during ordinary operation andwhich may be assembled together with the optical assembly in a cameraconfiguration, including structural components to which the static lensgroups are securely coupled and aligned in fixed positions along theoptical path and to which the movable lens groups are also securelycoupled and aligned and movable precisely forward and backward along theoptical path of the optical assembly for adjusting, setting and/orcontrolling a magnification or zoom setting of the optical assembly.

FIGS. 6A-6C schematically illustrate a second example embodiment of acore zoom or afocal zoom module of an optical assembly of a finiteconjugate system that also exhibits in this second example a ratio ofhighest to lowest magnification of 7:1 and an approximate etendue of1.57 mm²sr, and includes in this second example a static positive groupG202, a negative movable group G302, a positive static group G402, anegative movable group G502, and a static positive group G602, which maybe configured in accordance with the example optical prescription setforth at Table 2.

FIGS. 7A-7C schematically illustrate a third embodiment of a core zoomor afocal zoom module of an optical assembly of a finite conjugateoptical system that exhibits in this third example a ratio of highest tolowest magnification of 7:1 and an approximate etendue of 1.58 mm²sr,and includes in this third example a static positive group G203, anegative movable group G303, a negative movable group G403, a negativemovable group G503, and a static positive group G603, which may beconfigured in accordance with the example optical prescription set forthat Table 3.

FIGS. 8A-8C schematically illustrate a fourth example embodiment of acore zoom or afocal zoom module of an optical assembly of a finiteconjugate optical system that exhibits in this fourth example a ratio ofhighest to lowest magnification of 16:1 and an approximate etendue of1.58 mm²sr, and includes in this fourth example a static positive groupG204, a negative movable group G304, a positive movable group G404, anegative movable group G504, and a static positive group G604, which maybe configured in accordance with the example optical prescription setforth at Table 4.

FIGS. 9A-9C schematically illustrate a fifth example embodiment of acore zoom or afocal zoom module of an optical assembly of a finiteconjugate optical system that exhibits in this fifth example a ratio ofhighest to lowest magnification of 6.2:1 and an approximate etendue of2.88 mm²sr, and includes in this fifth example a static positive groupG205, a negative movable group G305, a negative movable group G405, anegative movable group G505, and a static positive group G605, which maybe configured in accordance with the example optical prescription setforth at Table 5.

FIGS. 10A-10C schematically illustrate a sixth example embodiment of acore zoom or afocal zoom module of an optical assembly of a finiteconjugate optical system that exhibits in this sixth example a ratio ofhighest to lowest magnification of 12:1 and an approximate etendue of2.88 mm²sr, and includes in this sixth example a static positive groupG206, a negative movable group G306, a positive movable group G406, anegative movable group G506, and a static positive group G606, which maybe configured in accordance with the example optical prescription setforth at Table 6.

FIGS. 11A-11C schematically illustrates a seventh example embodiment ofa core zoom or afocal zoom module of an optical assembly of a finiteconjugate optical system that exhibits in this seventh example a ratioof highest to lowest magnification of 5.7:1 and an approximate etendueof 4.65 mm²sr, and includes in this seventh example a static positivegroup G207, a negative movable group G307, a positive static group G407,a negative movable group G507, and a static positive group G607, whichmay be configured in accordance with the example optical prescriptionset forth at Table 7.

FIG. 12 schematically illustrates an example embodiment 8 of a rearadapter optical assembly, or rear adapter module, that may be configuredfor an optical assembly of a finite conjugate optical system that mayalso include a zooming component, that exhibits in this example anetendue of 1.58 mm²sr and 11 mm sensor coverage, 16 mm aperture, and a97.86 mm pupil depth, and includes in this example an optical group G708which may be configured in accordance with the example opticalprescription set forth at Table 8.

FIG. 13 schematically illustrates an example embodiment 9 of a rearadapter optical assembly, or rear adapter module, that may be configuredfor an optical assembly of a finite conjugate optical system that mayalso include a zooming component, that exhibits in this example anetendue of 1.58 mm²sr and 16 mm sensor coverage, 16 mm aperture, and a97.86 mm pupil depth, and that includes in this example an optical groupG709 which may be configured in accordance with the example opticalprescription set forth at Table 9.

FIG. 14 schematically illustrates an example embodiment 10 of a rearadapter optical assembly, or rear adapter module, that may be configuredfor an optical assembly of a finite conjugate optical system that mayalso include a zooming component, that exhibits in this example anetendue of 1.58 mm²sr and 22 mm sensor coverage, 16 mm aperture, and a97.86 mm pupil depth, and that includes in this example an optical groupG710 which may be configured in accordance with the example opticalprescription set forth at Table 10.

FIG. 15 schematically illustrates an example embodiment 11 of a rearadapter optical assembly, or rear adapter module, that may be configuredfor an optical assembly of a finite conjugate optical system that mayalso include a zooming component, that exhibits an etendue of 1.58 mm²srand 32 mm sensor coverage, 16 mm aperture, and a 97.86 mm pupil depth,and that includes in this example an optical group G711 which may beconfigured in accordance with the example optical prescription set forthat Table 11.

FIG. 16 schematically illustrates an example embodiment 12, of a rearadapter optical assembly, or rear adapter module, that may be configuredfor an optical assembly of a finite conjugate optical system that mayalso include a zooming component, that exhibits an etendue of 3.21 mm²srand 16 mm sensor coverage, 20 mm aperture, and a 119.5 mm pupil depth,and that includes in this example an optical group G712 which may beconfigured in accordance with the example optical prescription set forthat Table 12.

FIG. 17 schematically illustrates an example embodiment 13, of a rearadapter optical assembly, or rear adapter module, that may be configuredfor an optical assembly of a finite conjugate optical system that mayalso include a zooming component, that exhibits an etendue of 3.21 mm²srand 32 mm sensor coverage, 20 mm aperture, and a 119.5 mm pupil depth,and that includes in this example an optical group G713 which may beconfigured in accordance with the example optical prescription set forthat Table 13.

FIG. 18 schematically illustrates an example embodiment 14, of a lensattachment optical assembly, or lens attachment module, that may beconfigured for an optical assembly of a finite conjugate optical systemthat may also include a zooming component, that exhibits a 12.5 mmfield, 19 mm aperture, and 105.5 mm pupil depth, and that includes inthis example an optical group G114 which may be configured in accordancewith the example optical prescription set forth at Table 14.

FIG. 19 schematically illustrates an example embodiment 15, of a lensattachment optical assembly, or lens attachment module, that may beconfigured for an optical assembly of a finite conjugate optical systemthat may also include a zooming component, that exhibits a 25 mm field,19 mm aperture, and 105.5 mm pupil depth, and that includes in thisexample an optical group G115 which may be configured in accordance withthe example optical prescription set forth at Table 15.

FIG. 20 schematically illustrates an example embodiment 16, of a lensattachment optical assembly, or lens attachment module, that may beconfigured for an optical assembly of a finite conjugate optical systemthat may also include a zooming component, that exhibits a 33.3 mmfield, 19 mm aperture, and 105.5 mm pupil depth, and that includes inthis example an optical group G116 which may be configured in accordancewith the example optical prescription set forth at Table 16.

FIG. 21 schematically illustrates an example embodiment 17, of a lensattachment optical assembly, or lens attachment module, that may beconfigured for an optical assembly of a finite conjugate optical systemthat may also include a zooming component, that exhibits a 50 mm field,19 mm aperture, and 105.5 mm pupil depth, and that includes in thisexample an optical group G117 which may be configured in accordance withthe example optical prescription set forth at Table 17.

FIG. 22 schematically illustrates an example embodiment 18, of a lensattachment optical assembly, or lens attachment module, that may beconfigured for an optical assembly of a finite conjugate optical systemthat may also include a zooming component, that exhibits a 100 mm field,19 mm aperture, and 105.5 mm pupil depth, and that includes in thisexample an optical group G118 which may be configured in accordance withthe example optical prescription set forth at Table 18.

FIG. 23 schematically illustrates an example embodiment 19, of a lensattachment optical assembly, or lens attachment module, that may beconfigured for an optical assembly of a finite conjugate optical systemthat may also include a zooming component, that exhibits a 100 mm field,19 mm aperture, and 105.5 mm pupil depth, with certain telecentric chiefray properties through zoom, and that includes in this example anoptical group G119 which may be configured in accordance with an exampleoptical prescription set forth at Table 19.

FIGS. 24A-24C schematically illustrate a finite conjugate embodiment 20,of an optical assembly for an imaging system arranged, respectively, forlow magnification, mid magnification and high magnification, includingthree optical modules m124, m224 and m324 disposed between an object andan image sensor, including a lens attachment module m124, such as thatshown and described with reference to FIG. 21 and example embodiment 17,that includes a positive focal length group G120, and a zoom modulem224, such as a 7:1 afocal zoom module that exhibits an etendue ofapproximately 1.57 mm²sr, such as that shown and described withreference to FIG. 6 and embodiment 2, and includes five lens groupsincluding a static positive group G220, a negative movable group G320, apositive static group G420, a negative movable group G520, and a staticpositive group G620, and a rear adapter module m324, such as that shownand described with reference to FIG. 13 and example embodiment 9, thatincludes a positive focal length group G720, and that together mayexhibit a magnification range of 0.34×-2.4×, which may be configured inaccordance with the example optical prescription set forth at Table 20.

FIGS. 25A-25C schematically illustrate a finite conjugate embodiment 21of an optical assembly for an imaging system arranged, respectively, forlow magnification, mid magnification and high magnification, includingthree optical modules m125, m225 and m325 disposed between an object andan image sensor, including a lens attachment module m125, such as thatshown and described with reference to FIG. 19 and embodiment 15, thatincludes a positive focal length group G121, and module m225 thatincludes a zooming component or a core zoom module m225, that in thisexample includes a 7:1 afocal zoom module that exhibits an etendue ofapproximately 1.57 mm²sr and includes five lens groups including astatic positive group G221, a negative movable group G321, a positivestatic group G421, a negative movable group G521, and a static positivegroup G621, and that includes a rear adapter module m325, such as thatshown and described with reference to FIG. 13 and example embodiment 9,that includes a rear adapter with a positive focal length group G721,that together have a magnification range of 0.68×-4.8×, which may beconfigured in accordance with the example optical prescription is setforth at Table 21.

FIGS. 26A-26C schematically illustrate a finite conjugate embodiment 22of an optical assembly arranged, respectively, for low magnification,mid magnification and high magnification, for an imaging systemincluding three optical modules m126, m226 and m326 disposed between anobject and an image sensor, including a lens attachment module m126,such as that shown and described with reference to FIG. 18 andembodiment 14, that includes a positive focal length group G122, andmodule m226 that includes a zooming component or a core zoom modulem226, that in this example includes a 7:1 afocal zoom module thatexhibits an etendue of approximately 1.57 mm²sr, such as that shown anddescribed with reference to FIG. 6 and example embodiment 2, andincludes five lens groups including a static positive group G222, anegative movable group G322, a positive static group G422, a negativemovable group G522, and a static positive group G622, and a rearattachment module m326, such as that shown and described with referenceto FIG. 15 and example embodiment 11, that includes a rear adapter witha positive focal length group G722, that together have a magnificationrange of 2.72×-19.2×, which may be configured in accordance with theexample optical prescription is set forth at Table 22.

FIG. 27A schematically illustrates an example of a camera system that isconfigured in accordance with certain embodiments, including a cameramount cm, a rear adapter module m3, a flat mount fm or split clamp sc, acore zoom module m2, a lighting component lc, a coupler cc, and a lensattachment module m1.

FIG. 27B schematically illustrates examples of camera mounts cm1, cm2and cm3.

FIG. 27C schematically illustrates four examples of rear adapter modulesm327, m328, m329, m330, which may be configured in accordance with Table24.

FIG. 27D schematically illustrates examples of a flat mount fm1 andsplit clamp sc1 in accordance with certain embodiments.

FIGS. 27E schematically illustrates examples of core zoom modules m227,m228, m229, m230 and m231 in accordance with certain embodiments.

FIG. 27F schematically illustrates two lighting component optionsincluding a LED illuminator lc1, and coax lc2, and a coupler cc, inaccordance with certain embodiments.

FIG. 27G schematically illustrates examples of lens attachment modulesm127, m128, m129, m130, m131, m132 and m133, which may be configured inaccordance with Table 23.

FIG. 28 schematically illustrates a tube lens or rear adapter inaccordance with certain embodiments. The rear adapter of FIG. 28 may beincluded in or combined with module m324 of FIGS. 24A-24C, m325 of FIGS.25A-25C, and/or m326 of FIGS. 26A-26C or in an adapter m3 of FIG. 27A,or in one or more of the example rear adapter modules m327, m328, m329or m330 that are schematically illustrated at FIG. 27C, or in any of theexamples that are schematically illustrated at FIGS. 12-17. The tubelens or rear adapter of FIG. 28 may be coupled with a zooming componentand a lens attachment in an optical assembly exhibiting an etenduebetween 0.95 mm²sr and 4.95 mm²sr, or in the specific example of therear adapter of FIG. 28 having an etendue value of 1.58 mm²sr withdimensions A, B, & C listed as variables in Table 24.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE TABLES

Table 1 includes an example optical prescription for an example afocalzoom optical assembly that is configured in accordance with certainembodiments and is schematically illustrated at FIG. 5.

Table 2 includes an example optical prescription for an example afocalzoom optical assembly that is configured in accordance with certainembodiments and is schematically illustrated at FIG. 6.

Table 3 includes an example optical prescription for an example afocalzoom optical assembly that is configured in accordance with certainembodiments and is schematically illustrated at FIG. 7.

Table 4 includes an example optical prescription for an example afocalzoom optical assembly that is configured in accordance with certainembodiments and is schematically illustrated at FIG. 8.

Table 5 includes an example optical prescription for an example afocalzoom optical assembly that is configured in accordance with certainembodiments and is schematically illustrated at FIG. 9.

Table 6 includes an example optical prescription for an example afocalzoom optical assembly that is configured in accordance with certainembodiments and is schematically illustrated at FIG. 10.

Table 7 includes an example optical prescription for an example afocalzoom optical assembly that is configured in accordance with certainembodiments and is schematically illustrated at FIG. 11.

Table 8 includes an example optical prescription for a rear adapteroptical assembly configured in accordance with the example embodimentthat is schematically illustrated at FIG. 12.

Table 9 includes an example optical prescription for a rear adapteroptical assembly configured in accordance with the example embodimentthat is schematically illustrated at FIG. 13.

Table 10 includes an example optical prescription for a rear adapteroptical assembly configured in accordance with the example embodimentthat is schematically illustrated at FIG. 14.

Table 11 includes an example optical prescription for a rear adapteroptical assembly configured in accordance with the example embodimentthat is schematically illustrated at FIG. 15.

Table 12 includes an example optical prescription for a rear adapteroptical assembly configured in accordance with the example embodimentthat is schematically illustrated at FIG. 16.

Table 13 includes an example optical prescription for a rear adapteroptical assembly configured in accordance with the example embodimentthat is schematically illustrated at FIG. 17.

Table 14 includes an example optical prescription for a lens attachmentoptical assembly configured in accordance with the example embodimentthat is schematically illustrated at FIG. 18.

Table 15 includes an example optical prescription for a lens attachmentoptical assembly configured in accordance with the example embodimentthat is schematically illustrated at FIG. 19.

Table 16 includes an example optical prescription for a lens attachmentfinite conjugate optical assembly configured in accordance with theexample embodiment that is schematically illustrated at FIG. 20.

Table 17 includes an example optical prescription for a lens attachmentoptical assembly configured in accordance with the example embodimentthat is schematically illustrated at FIG. 21.

Table 18 includes an example optical prescription for a lens attachmentoptical assembly configured in accordance with the example embodimentthat is schematically illustrated at FIG. 22.

Table 19 includes an example optical prescription for a lens attachmentoptical assembly configured in accordance with the example embodimentthat is schematically illustrated at FIG. 23.

Table 20 includes an example optical prescription for a finite conjugateoptical assembly comprising a lens attachment module m124, a core zoommodule m224, and a rear adapter module m324 that may be configured inaccordance with the example embodiment that is schematically illustratedat FIGS. 24A-24C.

Table 21 includes an example optical prescription for a finite conjugateoptical assembly comprising a lens attachment module m125, a core zoommodule m225, and a rear adapter module m325 that may be configured inaccordance with the example embodiment that is schematically illustratedat FIGS. 25A-25C.

Table 22 includes an example optical prescription for a finite conjugateoptical assembly comprising a lens attachment module m126, a core zoommodule m226, and a rear adapter module m326 that may be configured inaccordance with the example embodiment that is schematically illustratedat FIGS. 26A-26C.

Table 23 includes example embodiments of lens attachments, as in FIG.27A and/or FIG. 27G, or objectives with long working distance to focallength (WD/FL) ratio, and 16-25 mm diameter external entrance pupilsdisposed at 50 mm or greater distance.

Table 24 includes example embodiments of rear adapters or tube lenses,as in FIG. 27A and/or FIG. 27C, with short path length to focal lengthratios, 16-25 mm diameter external entrance pupils of 50 mm or greaterdistance, and an approximate etendue value of 1.58 mm²sr.

Table 25 includes a zoom field of view matrix in accordance with certainembodiments, representative of the modular system nature of the exampleembodiments schematically illustrated at FIGS. 27A-27G.

TABLE 1 Table 1: Embodiment 1 Surf Radius Thickness Glass Nd Glass vdMag. 1 Mag. 2 Mag. 3 Mag. 4 Mag. 5 Mag. 6 OBJ Infinity Infinity 1Infinity 2.4 2 388.35 2.5 1.497 81.5 3 −62.06 1 1.850 32.3 4 −92.375 0.55 97.702 1.8 1.497 81.5 6 1349.45 3 7 Infinity Zm1 Zm1: 0.500 14.65926.163 31.886 36.126 37.508 8 −84.35 1 1.595 67.7 9 13.84 2 1.738 32.310 23.37 3 11 Infinity Zm2 Zm2: 69.697 49.483 29.484 19.640 9.736 0.50012 45.19 1 1.804 39.6 13 24.29 2.284 STO 19.674 3.2 1.487 70.2 15−16.044 0.939 16 −14.77 1 1.804 39.6 17 −25.146 Zm3 Zm3: 0.500 4.05411.753 17.680 29.562 47.218 18 −56.309 1 1.607 56.8 19 15.155 1.7 1.72828.3 20 31.2 Zm4 Zm4: 15.030 17.493 18.189 16.678 10.331 0.446 21Infinity 3 22 −35.916 1.5 1.691 54.8 23 −52.092 0.5 24 −150.11 4.5 1.60365.4 25 −15.155 1 1.697 48.5 26 −27.94 0.5 27 Infinity 2.4 IMA Infinity

TABLE 2 Table 2: Embodiment 2 Surf Radius Thickness Glass Nd Glass vdMag. 1 Mag. 2 Mag. 3 Mag. 4 Mag. 5 Mag. 6 OBJ Infinity Infinity 1Infinity 2.5 2 46.34 1.2 1.740 28.3 3 31.72 5 1.439 94.7 4 −228.526 0.55 228.526 1.8 1.717 29.5 6 Infinity 3 7 Infinity Zm1 Zm1: 9.684 18.90229.333 33.731 38.794 40.334 8 −47.673 1.1 1.618 63.3 9 12.423 2.8 1.74935.3 10 26.395 3 11 Infinity Zm2 Zm2: 31.148 21.930 11.499 7.100 2.0370.498 STO 37.82 2 1.439 94.7 13 −27.352 1.1 1.852 40.8 14 −46.34 Zm3Zm3: 0.400 0.488 2.659 5.326 13.533 27.375 15 Infinity 2 16 −47.673 1.11.618 63.3 17 12.423 2.8 1.749 35.3 18 26.395 Zm4 Zm4: 27.471 27.38325.212 22.545 14.339 0.496 19 Infinity 3 20 126.6 6.6 1.439 94.7 21−21.048 1.2 1.786 44.2 22 −29.59 0.5 23 Infinity 2 IMA Infinity

TABLE 3 Table 3: Embodiment 3 Surf Radius Thickness Glass Nd Glass vdMag. 1 Mag. 2 Mag. 3 Mag. 4 Mag. 5 Mag. 6 OBJ Infinity Infinity 1Infinity 2.4 2 108.23 4.8 1.595 67.7 3 −77.5 1 1.720 34.7 4 −259.592 2 5Infinity Zm1 Zm1: 0.500 24.673 48.242 61.282 76.910 90.166 6 −34.798 1.51.904 31.3 7 −20 1 1.618 63.4 8 57.864 1 9 Infinity Zm2 Zm2: 33.31639.214 24.960 12.126 1.053 1.000 10 76.14 1.4 1.517 52.2 11 −86.1 11.620 60.3 STO 70.78 Zm3 Zm3: 58.325 18.130 2.500 2.000 1.500 1.000 13−119.562 1 1.735 48.8 14 74.48 2 1.717 29.5 15 1246.12 Zm4 Zm4: 0.50010.629 16.941 17.241 13.174 0.500 16 Infinity 2 17 119.14 1 1.747 51.018 51.212 6.8 1.595 67.7 19 −32.71 2.7 1.954 32.3 20 −47.21 0.5 21Infinity 2.4 IMA Infinity

TABLE 4 Table 4: Embodiment 4 Surf Radius Thickness Glass Nd Glass vdMag. 1 Mag. 2 Mag. 3 Mag. 4 Mag. 5 Mag. 6 OBJ Infinity Infinity 1Infinity 2.4 2 135.2191 6 1.497 81.5 3 −81.23256 3 1.804 46.5 4−579.2985 0.5 5 100.1953 6 1.497 81.5 6 −71.67808 3 1.729 54.7 7 −119.92Zm1 Zm1: 10.729 30.432 47.364 59.288 70.534 71.656 8 −88.39807 1.9 1.56742.8 9 −27.90612 1.1 1.595 67.7 10 14.66054 1.9 1.804 39.6 11 23.61669 112 Infinity Zm2 Zm2: 53.224 33.736 17.765 8.952 1.648 0.212 13 27.892491.5 1.573 57.7 14 −34.59251 1.1 1.852 40.8 STO 225.5134 Zm3 Zm3: 1.2770.600 0.500 0.600 9.842 22.504 16 −61.20832 1.1 1.678 55.3 17 8.6285431.4 1.750 35.0 18 23.21423 Zm4 Zm4: 29.470 29.933 29.071 25.861 12.6740.335 19 Infinity 1 20 74.38562 2 1.697 55.5 21 38.11623 6.4 1.497 81.622 −21.07531 2 1.800 42.2 23 −31.16009 0.5 24 Infinity 2.4 IMA Infinity

TABLE 5 Table 5: Embodiment 5 Surf Radius Thickness Glass Nd Glass vdMag. 1 Mag. 2 Mag. 3 Mag. 4 Mag. 5 Mag. 6 OBJ Infinity Infinity 1Infinity 2.4 2 113.296 3.5 1.497 81.5 3 −504.077 0.5 4 154.500 3.5 1.59567.7 5 −171.549 1.2 1.720 34.7 6 401.168 2 7 Infinity Zm1 Zm1: 0.61923.634 46.431 59.060 74.210 86.962 8 −32.365 1.4 1.904 31.3 9 −20.802 11.538 74.7 10 83.958 1 1.755 52.3 11 52.894 2 12 Infinity Zm2 Zm2:17.208 41.762 23.536 11.397 0.795 0.349 13 −638.587 1.2 1.548 45.8 14−53.959 1.1 1.697 55.5 STO 1300.245 Zm3 Zm3: 70.613 10.074 1.723 1.7081.733 1.500 16 −91.693 1.1 1.755 52.3 17 114.822 3.75 1.717 29.5 18−862.236 Zm4 Zm4: 0.465 13.431 17.236 16.767 12.160 0.131 19 Infinity 220 318.815 4.5 1.497 81.5 21 −72.280 0.5 22 −305.721 6 1.595 67.7 23−40.649 1.2 1.954 32.3 24 −61.690 0.5 25 Infinity 2.4 IMA Infinity

TABLE 6 Table 6: Embodiment 6 Surf Radius Thickness Glass Nd Glass vdMag. 1 Mag. 2 Mag. 3 Mag. 4 Mag. 5 Mag. 6 OBJ Infinity Infinity 1Infinity 2.5 2 42.042 3 1.773 49.6 3 29.74 8.6 1.439 94.7 4 −55.7 31.713 53.9 5 −101.2224 3 6 Infinity Zm1 Zm1: 25.619 25.844 34.664 47.81152.668 55.064 7 72.61 5.7 1.613 44.5 8 −20.54 1.2 1.678 55.6 9 28.25 1.510 −64.593 1.1 1.678 55.6 11 8.2 2.7 1.720 34.7 12 26.61 3 13 InfinityZm2 Zm2: 8.283 40.047 35.039 19.297 8.449 0.500 STO 27.18 3 1.523 51.515 −11.3 1.7 1.728 28.3 16 −23.04 Zm3 Zm3: 0.500 8.955 12.151 19.42625.099 30.541 17 Infinity 2.35 18 −53.49 1.5 1.773 49.6 19 13.84 5 1.50156.4 20 −11.123 0.4 21 −12.36 1.1 1.618 63.3 22 19.01 3 1.673 32.2 23324.2 Zm4 Zm4: 52.486 12.043 5.034 0.355 0.672 0.784 24 Infinity 4.5 2591.12 10.5 1.497 81.6 26 −73.95 0.5 27 516.33 3 1.713 53.9 28 43 12.51.439 94.7 29 −148.321 2.5 IMA Infinity

TABLE 7 Table 7: Embodiment 7 Surf Radius Thickness Glass Nd Glass vdMag. 1 Mag. 2 Mag. 3 Mag. 4 Mag. 5 Mag. 6 OBJ Infinity Infinity 1Infinity 2.5 2 54.990 3 1.720 50.6 3 37.559 8.2 1.439 94.7 4 −54.178 31.713 53.9 5 −87.440 3 6 Infinity Zm1 Zm1: 0.500 14.924 26.496 32.50738.532 38.442 7 −79.56709 3.2 1.586 59.5 8 −18.374 1.1 1.595 67.7 919.216 2.7 1.810 40.9 10 35.058 3 11 Infinity Zm2 Zm2: 40.431 26.00614.434 8.423 2.398 2.489 STO 80.43011 2 1.439 94.7 13 −24.156 1.7 1.57357.7 14 −50.488 Zm3 Zm3: 0.300 1.251 5.305 10.669 30.273 43.500 15Infinity 2.35 16 −108.919 1.5 1.678 55.2 17 17.363 3.8 1.501 56.4 18−23.497 0.496 19 −25.80029 1.1 1.618 63.3 20 18.607 2.558 1.806 40.9 2172.384 Zm4 Zm4: 43.898 42.947 38.893 33.529 13.925 0.698 22 Infinity 4.523 121.957 3 1.697 55.5 24 71.266 11.8 1.439 94.7 25 −37.03341 3 1.75645.7 26 −52.25707 2.5 IMA Infinity

TABLE 8 Table 8: Embodiment 8 Surf Radius Thickness Glass Nd Glass vdOBJ Infinity Infinity STO Infinity 95.358 2 Infinity 2.5 3 31.765 5.11.439 94.7 4 195.200 1 5 36.470 4 1.595 67.7 6 120.580 1.487 7 24.5 5.41.595 67.7 8 555.667 2 1.916 31.6 9 17.760 3.93 10 34.220 5.75 1.68931.1 11 −21.666 2 1.729 54.1 12 30.2 55.65778 IMA Infinity

TABLE 9 Table 9: Embodiment 9 Surf Radius Thickness Glass Nd Glass vdOBJ Infinity Infinity STO Infinity 95.358 2 Infinity 2.5 3 46.440 6.31.439 94.7 4 200.692 0.962 5 35.110 4 1.595 67.7 6 105.440 1.483 7 29.596.1 1.595 67.7 8 82.340 2 1.916 31.6 9 20.700 4.772 10 114.310 8 1.68931.1 11 −26.610 2 1.729 54.1 12 84.24 92.369 IMA Infinity

TABLE 10 Table 10: Embodiment 10 Surf Radius Thickness Glass Nd Glass vdOBJ Infinity Infinity STO Infinity 95.358 2 Infinity 2.5 3 28.580 61.439 94.7 4 1400.000 1.000 5 37.740 4.7 1.595 67.7 6 −662.210 1.493 7120.95 5.4 1.595 67.7 8 266.000 0.908 9 −86.890 2.000 1.916 31.6 1020.990 2.758 11 27.280 9.1 1.689 31.1 12 −23.207 2.000 1.729 54.1 1341.63 114.916 IMA Infinity

TABLE 11 Table 11: Embodiment 11 Surf Radius Thickness Glass Nd Glass vdOBJ Infinity Infinity STO Infinity 95.358 2 Infinity 2.5 3 47.545 6.91.497 81.5 4 −53.666 2.500 1.613 44.3 5 −491.100 65.63724 6 49.070 5.4001.626 35.7 7 −17.2 2 1.804 46.6 8 22.200 30.77527 9 −31.890 4.400 1.48770.2 10  −21.808 67.370 IMA Infinity

TABLE 12 Table 12: Embodiment 12 Surf Radius Thickness Glass Nd Glass vdOBJ Infinity Infinity STO Infinity 117.009 2 Infinity 2.5 3 28.380 13.41.439 94.7 4 −37.975 2.5 1.757 47.8 5 −324.937 22.136 6 192.795 5.11.541 47.2 7 −38.85269 9.675 8 −19.629 2 1.804 46.6 9 122.956 1.654 1051.367 3.2 1.699 30.1 11 −1242.590 50.796 IMA Infinity

TABLE 13 Table 13: Embodiment 13 Surf Radius Thickness Glass Nd Glass vdOBJ Infinity Infinity STO Infinity 117.009 2 Infinity 2.5 3 62.543 13.41.439 94.9 4 −50.108 2.5 1.757 47.8 5 −119.524 27.128 6 98.365 5.1 1.54147.2 7 −90.06724 14.917 8 −70.416 2 1.804 46.6 9 48.233 43.830 10104.507 3.2 1.699 30.1 11 253.408 102.971 IMA Infinity

TABLE 14 Table 14: Embodiment 14 Surf Radius Thickness Glass Nd Glass vdOBJ Infinity 32 1 Infinity 1.5 2 −208.953 7.5 1.618 63.3 3 −57.260 0.9974 43.200 16.5 1.497 81.5 5 −44.732 3.455 6 −33.373 2.5 1.720 50.6 7277.160 16 1.497 81.5 8 −34.417 1 9 121.232 2.5 1.847 23.8 10 48.00612.4 1.497 81.5 11 −69.746 5.5 12 −30.9 2.5 1.638 42.4 13 −481 1.7 14−739.9 5 1.923 20.9 15 −77.27 105.5 16 Infinity —

TABLE 15 Table 15: Embodiment 15 Surf Radius Thickness Glass Nd Glass vdOBJ Infinity 92.60424 1 Infinity 1.5 2 −1645.000 2.4 1.916 31.6 3 80.5009.9 1.439 94.7 4 −56.890 1.491 5 65 19.2 1.801 35.0 6 −69.882 2.2 1.63842.4 7 36.350 7.2 1.439 94.7 8 202.510 105.5 9 Infinity —

TABLE 16 Table 16: Embodiment 16 Surf Radius Thickness Glass Nd Glass vdOBJ Infinity 109.9136 1 Infinity 2.5 2 121.856 2.5 1.673 38.3 3 97.1908.2 1.700 48.1 4 −74.647 1.5 5 −70 2.5 1.741 52.6 6 43.640 1.5 7 42.19414.8 1.497 81.5 8 −30.699 4.6 1.729 54.1 9 −48.740 105.5 10 Infinity —

TABLE 17 Table 17: Embodiment 17 Surf Radius Thickness Glass Nd Glass vdOBJ Infinity 187.4364 1 Infinity 3 2 199.700 12 1.439 94.9 3 −32.944 2.51.700 48.1 4 −68.562 1 5 −121.111 5.5 1.620 36.4 6 −46.239 2.192 7−54.448 2.5 1.613 44.5 8 −189.507 105.5 9 Infinity —

TABLE 18 Table 18: Embodiment 18 Surf Radius Thickness Glass Nd Glass vdOBJ Infinity 394.6556 1 Infinity 1.5 2 132.530 12 1.439 94.9 3 −80.4182.75 1.694 53.2 4 120.815 1 5 58.41 10 1.693 52.9 6 58.922 2 7 164.2604.6 1.609 46.6 8 −153.000 105.5 9 Infinity —

TABLE 19 Table 19: Embodiment 19 Surf Radius Thickness Glass Nd Glass vdOBJ Infinity 130.752 1 Infinity 3 2 279.767 15 1.516 64.1 3 −215.149148.5053 4 −103.519 3.5 1.729 54.7 5 141.751 40.90274 6 −53.354 2.21.697 55.5 7 84.129 8.2 1.439 94.7 8 −49.677 0.9969684 9 111.665 6.91.518 58.9 10 −68.612 105.5 11 Infinity —

TABLE 20 Table 20: Embodiment 20 Surf Radius Thickness Glass Nd Glass vdMag. 1 Mag. 2 Mag. 3 Mag. 4 Mag. 5 Mag. 6 OBJ Infinity 187.436 1Infinity 3 2 199.7 12 1.439 94.9 3 −32.944 2.5 1.700 48.1 4 −68.562 1 5−121.111 5.5 1.620 36.4 6 −46.239 2.192 7 −54.448 2.5 1.613 44.5 8−189.507 51 9 Infinity 2.5 10 46.34 1.2 1.740 28.3 11 31.72 5 1.439 94.712 −228.526 0.5 13 228.526 1.8 1.717 29.5 14 Infinity 3 15 Infinity Zm1Zm1: 9.684 18.902 29.333 33.731 38.794 40.334 16 −47.673 1.1 1.618 63.317 12.423 2.8 1.749 35.3 18 26.395 3 19 Infinity Zm2 Zm2: 31.148 21.93011.499 7.100 2.037 0.498 STO 37.82 2 1.439 94.7 21 −27.352 1.1 1.85240.8 22 −46.34 Zm3 Zm3: 0.400 0.488 2.659 5.326 13.533 27.375 23Infinity 2 24 −47.673 1.1 1.618 63.3 25 12.423 2.8 1.749 35.3 26 26.395Zm4 Zm4: 27.471 27.383 25.212 22.545 14.339 0.496 27 Infinity 3 28 126.66.6 1.439 94.7 29 −21.048 1.2 1.786 44.2 30 −29.59 5 31 46.44 6.3 1.43994.7 32 200.692 0.962 33 35.11 4 1.595 67.7 34 105.44 1.483 35 29.59 6.11.595 67.7 36 82.34 2 1.916 31.6 37 20.7 4.768 38 114.31 8 1.689 31.1 39−26.61 2 1.729 54.1 40 84.24 92.3718 IMA Infinity

TABLE 21 Table 21: Embodiment 21 Surf Radius Thickness Glass Nd Glass vdMag. 1 Mag. 2 Mag. 3 Mag. 4 Mag. 5 Mag. 6 OBJ Infinity 92.604 1 Infinity1.5 2 −1645 2.4 1.916 31.6 3 80.5 9.9 1.439 94.7 4 −56.89 1.491 5 6519.2 1.801 35.0 6 −69.882 2.2 1.638 42.4 7 36.35 7.2 1.439 94.7 8 202.5151 9 Infinity 2.5 10 46.34 1.2 1.740 28.3 11 31.72 5 1.439 94.7 12−228.526 0.5 13 228.526 1.8 1.717 29.5 14 Infinity 3 15 Infinity Zm1Zm1: 9.684 18.902 29.333 33.731 38.794 40.334 16 −47.673 1.1 1.618 63.317 12.423 2.8 1.749 35.3 18 26.395 3 19 Infinity Zm2 Zm2: 31.148 21.93011.499 7.100 2.037 0.498 STO 37.82 2 1.439 94.7 21 −27.352 1.1 1.85240.8 22 −46.34 Zm3 Zm3: 0.400 0.488 2.659 5.326 13.533 27.375 23Infinity 2 24 −47.673 1.1 1.618 63.3 25 12.423 2.8 1.749 35.3 26 26.395Zm4 Zm4: 27.471 27.383 25.212 22.545 14.339 0.496 27 Infinity 3 28 126.66.6 1.439 94.7 29 −21.048 1.2 1.786 44.2 30 −29.59 5 31 46.44 6.3 1.43994.7 32 200.692 0.962 33 35.11 4 1.595 67.7 34 105.44 1.483 35 29.59 6.11.595 67.7 36 82.34 2 1.916 31.6 37 20.7 4.768 38 114.31 8 1.689 31.1 39−26.61 2 1.729 54.1 40 84.24 92.372 IMA Infinity

TABLE 22 Table 22: Embodiment 22 Surf Radius Thickness Glass Nd Glass vdMag. 1 Mag. 2 Mag. 3 Mag. 4 Mag. 5 Mag. 6 OBJ Infinity 32.000 1 Infinity1.500 2 −208.953 7.500 1.618 63.3335 3 −57.26 0.997 4 43.2 16.500 1.49781.5459 5 −44.732 3.455 6 −33.373 2.5 1.72003 50.6222 7 277.16 16 1.49781.5 8 −34.417 1 9 121.232 2.5 1.84666 23.8 10 48.006 12.4 1.497 81.5 11−69.746 5.5 12 −30.9 2.5 1.638 42.4 13 −481 1.7 14 −739.9 5 1.92286 20.915 −77.27 51 16 Infinity 2.5 17 46.34 1.2 1.74 28.3 18 31.72 5 1.43994.7 19 −228.526 0.5 20 228.526 1.8 1.71736 29.5 21 Infinity 3 22Infinity Zm1 Zm1: 9.684 18.902 29.333 33.731 38.794 40.334 23 −47.6731.1 1.618 63.3 24 12.423 2.8 1.7495 35.3 25 26.395 3 26 Infinity Zm2Zm2: 31.148 21.930 11.499 7.100 2.037 0.498 STO 37.82 2 1.43875 94.7 28−27.352 1.1 1.8515 40.8 29 −46.34 Zm3 Zm3: 0.400 0.488 2.659 5.32613.533 27.375 30 Infinity 2 31 −47.673 1.1 1.618 63.3 32 12.423 2.81.7495 35.3 33 26.395 Zm4 Zm4: 27.471 27.383 25.212 22.545 14.339 0.49634 Infinity 3 35 126.6 6.6 1.43875 94.7 36 −21.048 1.2 1.786 44.2 37−29.59 5 38 47.545 6.9 1.497 81.5 39 −53.666 2.5 1.6134 44.3 40 −491.165.6372 41 49.07 5.4 1.626 35.7 42 −17.2 2 1.804 46.6 43 22.2 30.7753 44−31.89 4.4 1.487 70.2 45 −21.808 67.370 IMA Infinity

TABLE 23 Part # Description F1(mm) W.D. (mm) W.D./F1 1-81201 0.25X 400356 0.89 1-81202  0.5X 200 174 0.87 1-81203 0.75X 133.33 100 0.751-81204   1X 100 90 0.9 1-81205 1.25X 80 72 0.9 1-81206  1.5X 65 45 0.691-81207   2X 50 30 0.6

TABLE 24 Sensor Diag total barrel Path Length D3 Focal Length F3 D3/F3Part # Desc. Format (Dim C) (mm) track (mm) (Dim. B) (mm) (Dim. A) (mm)ratio 1-81101 0.6875X ⅔″ 11 45.9 95 110 0.864 1-81102 1X 1″ 16 66.3117.5 160 0.734 1-81103 1.375X 4/3″ 22 100.8 147.5 220 0.67 1-81104 2X32 mm 32 101 192.5 320 0.602 1-81105 2.75X Full Frame 44 125 248.909 4400.566 1-81106 3.375X 54 mm 54 150 295.559 540 0.547 1-81107 4X 64 mm 64175 342.209 640 0.535

TABLE 25 Resolv4K Zoom Field of View Matrix Rear Adapter Mag 0.6875 X 1X 1.375 X 2 X Ideal Camera Format ⅔″ 1″ 4/3″ 32 mm (APS) PixelResolution (μm) Lens W.D. 2.24 5.47 3.26 7.95 4.48 10.93 6.51 15.90Resolution DOF Attachment (mm) Format Low High Low High Low High LowHigh Limit (μm) (mm) 0.25 1-81201 Mag. (X) 0.110 0.773 0.160 1.125 0.2201.547 0.320 2.250 NA Low ½″ 72.73 10.34 50.00 7.11 36.36 5.17 25.00 3.56Low Low 0.0082 ⅔″ 100.0 14.22 68.75 9.78 50.00 7.11 34.38 4.89 40.857.41 NA High 359.5 1″ — — 100.0 14.22 72.73 10.34 50.00 7.11 High High0.0238 4/3″ — — — — 100.0 14.22 68.75 9.78 14.13 0.89 32 mm — — — — — —100.0 14.22 0.5 1-81202 Mag. (X) 0.220 1.547 0.320 2.250 0.440 3.0940.640 4.500 NA Low ½″ 36.36 5.17 25.00 3.56 18.18 2.59 12.50 1.78 LowLow 0.0164 ⅔″ 50.00 7.11 34.38 4.89 25.00 3.56 17.19 2.44 20.43 1.85 NAHigh 173 1″ — — 50.00 7.11 36.36 5.17 25.00 3.56 High High 0.0475 4/3″ —— — — 50.00 7.11 34.38 4.89 7.06 0.22 32 mm — — — — — — 50.00 7.11 0.751-81203 Mag. (X) 0.330 2.320 0.480 3.375 0.660 4.641 0.960 6.750 NA Low½″ 24.24 3.45 16.67 2.37 12.12 1.72 8.33 1.19 Low Low 0.0246 ⅔″ 33.334.74 22.92 3.26 16.67 2.37 11.46 1.63 13.62 0.82 NA High 110 1″ — —33.33 4.74 24.24 3.45 16.67 2.37 High High 0.0713 4/3″ — — — — 33.334.74 22.92 3.26 4.71 0.10 32 mm — — — — — — 33.33 4.74 1 1-81204 Mag.(X) 0.440 3.094 0.640 4.500 0.880 6.188 1.280 9.000 NA Low ½″ 18.18 2.5912.50 1.78 9.09 1.29 6.25 0.89 Low Low 0.03285 ⅔″ 25.00 3.56 17.19 2.4412.50 1.78 8.59 1.22 10.21 0.46 NA High 90 1″ — — 25.00 3.56 18.18 2.5912.50 1.78 High High 0.095 4/3″ — — — — 25.00 3.56 17.19 2.44 3.53 0.05532 mm — — — — — — 25.00 3.56 1.25 1-81205 Mag. (X) 0.550 3.867 0.8005.625 1.100 7.734 1.600 11.25 NA Low ½″ 14.55 2.07 10.00 1.42 7.27 1.035.00 0.71 Low Low 0.0411 ⅔″ 20.00 2.84 13.75 1.96 10.00 1.42 6.88 0.988.17 0.30 NA High 72 1″ — — 20.00 2.84 14.55 2.07 10.00 1.42 High High0.1188 4/3″ — — — — 20.00 2.84 13.75 1.96 2.83 0.035 32 mm — — — — — —20.00 2.84 1.5 1-81206 Mag. (X) 0.660 4.641 0.960 6.750 1.320 9.2811.920 13.50 NA Low ½″ 12.12 1.72 8.33 1.19 6.06 0.86 4.17 0.59 Low Low0.0493 ⅔″ 16.67 2.37 11.46 1.63 8.33 1.19 5.73 0.81 6.81 0.206 NA High46.5 1″ — — 16.67 2.37 12.12 1.72 8.33 1.19 High High 0.1425 4/3″ — — —— 16.67 2.37 11.46 1.63 2.35 0.025 32 mm — — — — — — 16.67 2.37 21-81207 Mag. (X) 0.880 6.188 1.280 9.000 1.760 12.38 2.560 18.00 NA Low½″ 9.09 1.29 6.25 0.89 4.55 0.65 3.13 0.44 Low Low 0.0657 ⅔″ 12.50 1.788.59 1.22 6.25 0.89 4.30 0.61 5.11 0.116 NA High 32 1″ — — 12.50 1.789.09 1.29 6.25 0.89 High High 0.1900 4/3″ — — — — 12.50 1.78 8.59 1.221.77 0.014 32 mm — — — — — — 12.50 1.78 UltraZoom 2 1-55075 Mag. (X)0.880 6.188 1.280 9.000 1.760 12.38 2.560 18.00 NA Low Nav 4X ½″ 8.101.29 6.25 0.89 4.55 0.65 3.13 0.44 Low Low 0.0657 ⅔″ 8.10 1.78 8.10 1.226.25 0.89 4.30 0.61 5.11 116 NA High 20 1″ — — 8.10 1.78 8.10 1.29 6.250.89 High High 0.1900 4/3″ — — — — 8.10 1.78 8.10 1.22 1.77 14 32 mm — —— — — — 8.10 1.78 3 Mag. (X) 1.320 9.281 1.920 13.50 2.640 18.56 3.84027.00 NA Low Nav 6X ½″ 6.06 0.86 4.17 0.59 3.03 0.43 2.08 0.30 Low Low0.0986 ⅔″ 6.25 1.19 5.73 0.81 4.17 0.59 2.86 0.41 3.40 51 NA High 25 1″— — 6.25 1.19 6.06 0.86 4.17 0.59 High High 0.2850 4/3″ — — — — 6.251.19 5.73 0.81 1.18 6.2 32 mm — — — — — — 6.25 1.19 5 1-55227 Mag. (X)2.200 15.47 3.200 22.50 4.400 30.94 6.400 45.00 NA Low Nav 10X ½″ 3.200.52 2.50 0.36 1.82 0.26 1.25 0.18 Low Low 0.1643 ⅔″ 3.20 0.71 3.20 0.492.50 0.36 1.72 0.24 2.04 19 NA High 10 1″ — — 3.20 0.71 3.20 0.52 2.500.36 High High 0.4000 4/3″ — — — — 3.20 0.71 3.20 0.49 0.84 3.1 32 mm —— — — — — 3.20 0.71 10 Mag. (X) 4.400 30.94 6.400 45.00 8.800 61.8812.80 90.00 NA Low Nav 20X ½″ 1.25 0.26 1.25 0.18 0.91 0.13 0.63 0.09Low Low 0.3285 ⅔″ 1.25 0.36 1.25 0.24 1.25 0.18 0.86 0.12 1.02 4.6 NAHigh 10 1″ — — 1.25 0.36 1.25 0.26 1.25 0.18 High High 0.5300 4/3″ — — —— 1.25 0.36 1.25 0.24 0.63 1.8 32 mm — — — — — — 1.25 0.36

DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS OF THE EMBODIMENTS

A finite conjugate camera, optical assembly, lens assembly, and/ordigital microscope includes a modular optical assembly or a modular lenssystem. Several example embodiments are described herein that arecapable of providing a range of numerical apertures or NAs acrossnumerous sensor format sizes as well as providing zooming capability. Alens system in accordance with certain embodiments may have anadvantageous amount of etendue capability, defined as the product of thepupil area and the solid angle of the field of view [Smith—ModernOptical Engineering, pg. 716, the entire book is incorporated byreference]. [Etendue=π*A*sin² θ] Eq. 1 [Bentley & Olson—Field Guide toLens Design, pg. 120, the entire book is incorporated by reference], fora flat surface with a uniform solid angle, where A is the area of thesurface and θ is the half angle of the marginal ray.

An optical design of a lens having approximate etendue of 0.95 mm²sr orgreater is provided that is configured to approximately fully utilize a6.6 MP sensor having a roughly 4:3 aspect ratio. A similarly designedoptical system having an approximate etendue value of 4.65 mm²sr isprovided that is configured to approximately fully utilize a 32 MPsensor having roughly a 4:3 aspect ratio. Lens etendue system values ofbetween approximately 0.95 to 4.65 mm²sr are provided in certainembodiments of optical assemblies that are configured to approximatelyreach sensor limited performance on various aspect ratios of digital oranalog capturing devices with 4075 to 8194 individual sensing unitsacross the diagonal diameter of the device. These individual sensingunits are commonly referred to as pixels in digital cameras. Multipleembodiments and examples are described that include etendue preservinglens systems that incorporate a ratio of highest to lowest magnificationof at least 5.5:1 and have etendue values of between about 0.95 to 4.65mm²sr.

The ratio of the highest magnification possible (M1) to the lowestmagnification possible (M2) is advantageous in several differentembodiments of zoom lens systems that can move continuously between thehigh and low magnification positions, therefore providing anymagnification between the high and low values. This feature is alsoadvantageous in embodiments including zoom lens systems that may have acontinuous movement with discrete stops for specific repeatablemagnification selections inside advantageous high and low magnificationvalues.

A modular finite conjugate lens assembly is provided that includes azooming component. The lens assembly is configured to exhibit between0.95 and 4.65 mm²sr of etendue, and a ratio of highest to lowestmagnification between 5.5:1 and 16:1. The lens assembly may exhibit amagnification 2× or more at one or more points of the zoom.

Another modular finite conjugate lens assembly is provided that includesan afocal zooming component. The lens assembly is configured to exhibitbetween 0.95 and 4.65 mm²sr of etendue, and a ratio of highest to lowestmagnification between 5.5:1 and 16:1.

Another finite conjugate lens assembly is provided that includes modularinterchangeable components, including a zooming component that includesthree independently movable lens groups that are disposed within thelens assembly between a pair of static lens groups, and wherein the lensassembly exhibits an etendue of between 0.95 and 4.65 mm²sr.

In certain embodiments, the lens assembly may be configured to have aresolving power such that 4,075 to 8,194 individual pixels areresolvable across a diagonal of an image plane.

In certain embodiments, the lens assembly exhibits an etendue between0.95 and 4.65 mm²sr at any point of the zoom range.

In certain embodiments, the lens assembly may be configured to exhibitbetween 1.57 and 4.65 mm²sr of etendue, and a ratio of highest to lowestmagnification between 7:1 and 16:1.

In certain embodiments, the lens assembly may be configured to exhibitbetween 2.88 and 4.65 mm²sr of etendue, and a ratio of highest to lowestmagnification between 6.2:1 and 16:1.

In certain embodiments, the lens assembly may include a lens attachmentmodule coupled to face an object side of the zooming component withinthe lens assembly. The lens attachment module may include two or morefixed focal length lens elements, and may have a positive focal length,and may exhibit a pupil size between 16 and 25 mm and/or a pupil depthof 50 mm or greater. The two or more fixed focal length lens elements ofthe lens attachment module may include a doublet. The two or more fixedfocal length lens elements of the lens attachment module may furtherinclude a triplet and/or a second doublet and one or more singletsand/or multiple singlets.

In certain embodiments, the lens assembly may include a rear adaptermodule coupled to face an image side of the zooming component within thelens assembly. The rear adapter module may include three or more fixedfocal length lens elements, and may have a positive focal length, andmay exhibit a pupil size between 16 and 25 mm and/or a pupil depth of 50mm or greater. The three or more fixed focal length lens elements of therear adapter module may include two doublets and a singlet, or a doubletand three singlets.

The lens assembly may include a core zoom module including the zoomingcomponent, and one or both of a lens attachment module and a rearadapter module.

Another modular finite conjugate lens assembly is provided that includesa zooming component that is configured to exhibit at least 1.58 mm²sr ofetendue at a lowest magnification position, and a ratio of highest tolowest magnification of at least 7:1. In certain embodiments, the lensassembly may provide a maximum magnification of 2× or greater. The lensassembly may be configured to have a resolving power such that greaterthan 4,075 individual pixels are resolvable across a diagonal of animage plane. The etendue of the lens assembly may be between 1.58 and4.95 mm²sr at one or more points or at any point of a zoom range of thezooming component. The ratio of highest to lowest magnification may bebetween 7:1 and 16:1.

The lens assembly may include an afocal zooming component. The lensassembly may include a lens attachment module that is coupled at anobject end of the afocal zooming component within the lens assembly. Thelens attachment module may include two or more fixed focal length lenselements, and may have a positive focal length, and may exhibit a pupilsize of between 16 and 25 mm. The lens attachment module may exhibit apupil depth of 75 mm or greater.

The lens assembly may include a rear adapter module that is coupled atan image end of an afocal zooming component within the lens assembly.The rear adapter module may include three or more fixed focal lengthlens elements, and may have a positive focal length, and may exhibit apupil size of between 16 and 25 mm. The rear adapter module may exhibitsa pupil depth of 75 mm or greater.

The lens assembly may include an afocal zoom section that includes thezooming component.

The lens assembly may include a core zoom module including the zoomingcomponent; a lens attachment module and a rear adapter module. The lensattachment module may include two or more fixed focal length lenselements. The lens attachment module may be coupled to an object end ofthe core zoom module and may have a positive focal length. The rearadapter module may include three or more fixed focal length lenselements. The rear adapter module may be coupled to an image end of thecore zoom module and may have a positive focal length. The lens assemblymay exhibit a pupil depth of at least 75 mm or a pupil size between 16and 25 mm, or both.

In certain embodiments, the lens assembly may be configured such that awavelength focus position across a wavelength range from 430 nm to 1100nm differs by not more than 3× from a DOF (depth of field) at 550 nmlight from a same 550 nm light focus position, wherein DOF is defined as

${{DOF} = {\pm \frac{\lambda}{2*{NA}^{2}}}},$where λ is wavelength and NA is Numerical Aperture.

The lens assembly may be configured such that a wavelength focusposition across a wavelength range from 430 nm to 660 nm differs by notmore than 1× from the DOF (depth of focus) at 550 nm light from a same550 nm light focus position, wherein DOF is defined as

${{DOF} = {\pm \frac{\lambda}{2*{NA}^{2}}}},$where λ is wavelength and NA is Numerical Aperture.

The lens assembly may be configured such that a wavelength focusposition across a wavelength range from 900 nm to 1700 nm differs by notmore than 3× from the DOF (depth of focus) at 1200 nm light from a same1200 nm light focus position, wherein DOF is defined as

${{DOF} = {\pm \frac{\lambda}{2*{NA}^{2}}}},$where λ is wavelength and NA is Numerical Aperture.

A lens assembly in accordance with certain embodiments may include acore zoom module that includes the zooming component, a lens attachmentmodule coupled at an object end of the core zoom module, and a rearadapter module coupled at an image end of the core zoom module.

In certain embodiments, a lens assembly may include an afocal zoomingcomponent. The lens assembly may include an afocal zoom module includingthe afocal zooming component. A lens attachment module may be coupled atan object side of the afocal zoom module within the lens assembly. Arear adapter module may be coupled at an image side of the afocal zoommodule within the lens assembly. The lens assembly may include one ormore of a motorization module, a lighting module, a focusing module, amount module, a sensor module, a processing module, and an interfacemodule.

In certain embodiments, a zooming component may include five lens groupsincluding, from object side to image side of the lens assembly, apositive focal length group, a negative focal length group, a thirdgroup, another negative focal length group, and another positive focallength group. The third group may be positive or negative.

In certain embodiments, the zooming component may include five lensgroups including, from object side to image side of the lens assembly, astatic first group, a movable second group, a third group, a movablefourth group, and a static fifth group. The third group may include amovable group. The movable second and fourth groups may have a same signof optical power, and a movable third group may have a same or oppositesign of optical power as the movable second and fourth groups. The thirdgroup may include a static group.

In certain embodiments, the zooming component may include five lensgroups including, from object side to image side of the lens assembly, astatic positive group, a negative movable group, a positive staticgroup, a negative movable group, and a positive static group.

In certain embodiments, the zooming component may include five lensgroups including, from object side to image side of the lens assembly, astatic positive group, a negative movable group, a positive movablegroup, a negative movable group, and a static positive group.

In certain embodiments, the zooming component may include five lensgroups including, from object side to image side of the lens assembly, astatic positive group, a negative movable group, a negative movablegroup, a negative movable group, and a positive static group.

In certain embodiments, the zooming component may include three movablegroups. The three movable groups may be disposed consecutively withinthe lens assembly. The three movable groups may be disposed between apair of static groups within the lens assembly.

In certain embodiments, the zooming component may include five lensgroups including, from object side to image side of the lens assembly, astatic group, a movable triplet, a third group, a movable doublet, andanother static group. The third group may include a doublet. The thirdgroup may be static or movable.

In certain embodiments, the zooming component may include, from objectside to image side of the lens assembly, a static group, a positivemovable group, another movable group, another positive movable group,and another static group. The zooming component may include threeconsecutive independently movable positive lens groups. The threeconsecutive independently movable lens groups may include anindependently movable negative lens group disposed between a pair ofindependently movable positive lens groups.

A lens assembly may be configured such that a telecentric chief rayvalue at an object is less than 2° relative to a flat perpendicularobject when combined with the zooming component.

A lens attachment module including a lens attachment lens assembly isalso provided herein. The lens attachment module is configured forcoupling with a zoom module for use as part of a zoom lens system. Thelens attachment lens assembly includes two or more lens elements and hasa positive focal length. The lens attachment lens assembly is configuredto exhibit a pupil size of between 16 and 25 mm and a pupil depthgreater than 50 mm.

In certain embodiments, the lens attachment lens assembly may exhibit anetendue between 0.95 and 4.65 mm²sr and may be configured to work inconjunction with said zoom module with 50% or less vignetting through azoom range of the zoom module.

In certain embodiments, the lens attachment lens assembly may exhibit apupil depth that is greater than 75 mm. The lens assembly may beconfigured such that pupil aberrations are matched to the zoom module toreduce system aberration, thereby improving system performance.

In certain embodiments, the lens attachment module may be configured forcoupling at an object end of a zoom module that also has a rear adaptermodule coupled at an image end within the lens assembly. The lensassembly may also include one or more of a motorization module, alighting module, a focusing module, a mount module, a sensor module, aprocessing module, and an interface module coupled together within saidlens assembly.

In certain embodiments, two or more lens elements of the lens attachmentlens assembly may include a doublet, and either a triplet; a seconddoublet and a singlet; and/or two or three singlets.

A rear adapter module including a rear adapter lens assembly is alsoprovided herein. The rear adapter module is configured for coupling witha zoom module for use as part of a zoom lens system. The rear adapterlens assembly includes three or more lens elements and has a positivefocal length. The rear adapter lens assembly is configured to exhibit apupil size of between 16 and 25 mm and a pupil depth greater than 50 mm.

In certain embodiments, the rear adapter lens assembly may be configuredto exhibit between 0.95 and 4.65 mm²sr. The rear adapter lens assemblymay be configured to work in conjunction with a zoom module with 50% orless vignetting through a zoom range of the zoom module.

In certain embodiments, the rear adapter lens assembly may exhibit apupil depth that is greater than 75 mm. The rear adapter lens assemblymay be configured such that pupil aberrations are matched to the zoommodule to reduce system aberration, thereby improving systemperformance.

In certain embodiments, the rear adapter module may be coupled at animage end of a zoom module that also has a lens attachment modulecoupled at an object end. One or more of a motorization module, alighting module, a focusing module, a mount module, a sensor module, aprocessing module, and an interface module may also be coupled togetherwithin the lens assembly.

In certain embodiments, the rear adapter lens assembly of the rearadapter module may include a doublet and three or more singlets, or twodoublets and one or more singlets.

A finite conjugate camera is also provided including a finite conjugatelens assembly, e.g., as set forth at any of the example embodimentsdescribed herein; an image sensor disposed at an image plane of theoptical assembly for capturing images; and a display or interface forcommunicating with an external display, or both, for displaying theimages captured at the image sensor. The finite conjugate camera may beconfigured as a digital microscope.

A finite conjugate camera is also provided including a finite conjugatelens assembly, e.g., as set forth at any of the example embodimentsdescribed herein; and an eyepiece configured and positioned such thatimages produced by the optical assembly are viewable by looking throughthe eyepiece. The finite conjugate camera may be configured as amicroscope.

Another finite conjugate camera is provided that includes:

-   -   (a) an afocal zoom module including a zoom lens assembly        including five lens groups including, from object end to image        end (i) a first positive static group including a doublet, a        triplet, two doublets, or a doublet and a singlet; (ii) a first        negative movable group including a triplet, or one or two        doublets, or a doublet and a singlet; (iii) a third group        including a doublet, or a triplet, or three singlets, or a        doublet and a singlet; (iv) a second negative movable group        including one or two doublets, or a triplet, or a doublet and a        singlet; and (v) a second positive static group including a        triplet, a doublet, or a doublet and a singlet, or two doublets;    -   (b) a lens attachment module coupled to the object end of the        zoom module, wherein the lens attachment module comprises a lens        attachment lens assembly including (i) a doublet and a triplet,        or (ii) two doublets and a singlet, or (iii) a doublet and three        singlets, or (iv) a doublet and two singlets, or (v) three        doublets, or (vi) three doublets and a singlet; or (vii) a        triplet and a doublet and a singlet, or (viii) a triplet and two        doublets, or (ix) two doublets and three singlets, or (x) two        doublets and four singlets;    -   (c) a rear adapter module coupled to an image end of the zoom        module, wherein the rear adapter module comprises a rear adapter        lens assembly including (i) one doublet and three singlets,        or (ii) two doublets and a singlet; and    -   (d) an image sensor or eyepiece disposed at an image plane.

Another finite conjugate camera is provided, including, from object endto image end:

-   -   (a) a lens attachment module that comprises a lens attachment        lens assembly including (i) a doublet and a triplet, or (ii) a        doublet with two or more singlets, or (iii) two doublets and one        or more singlets;    -   (b) an afocal zoom module exhibiting a ratio of highest to        lowest magnification between 5.5:1 and 16:1 and an etendue        between 0.95 and 4.65 mm²sr, and including a zoom lens assembly        including (i) a first positive focal length static group        including a triplet or a doublet and a singlet; (ii) a first        negative focal length movable group including a triplet, or one        or two doublets, or a doublet and a singlet; (iii) a third        static or movable group including a doublet, or a triplet, or        three singlets; (iv) a second negative focal length movable        group including one or two doublets, or a doublet and a singlet;        and (v) a second positive focal length static group including a        triplet, a doublet, or a doublet and a singlet;    -   (c) a rear adapter module that comprises a rear adapter lens        assembly including (i) a doublet and three singlets, or (ii) two        doublets and a singlet, or (iii) two doublets and two singlets,        or (iv) a doublet and four singlets; and    -   (d) an image sensor or eyepiece disposed at an image plane.

Optical assemblies in accordance with certain embodiments may include azooming component that is configured such that a ratio of highest tolowest magnification is within a range between 5.5:1 and 16:1. Exampleembodiments of the optical layout of a finite conjugate camera ormicroscope are schematically illustrated in FIGS. 24A-24C, 25A-25C, and26A-26C. A finite conjugate optical assembly is typically used to imageobjects that are disposed at distances of less than 21 times the focallength of the optical assembly. A finite conjugate optical assembly maybe combined with an image sensor to form a finite conjugate camera or aneyepiece may be used to view objects with the naked eye. A finiteconjugate camera may include a display, a processor, memory for storingimages, and wired and/or wireless communications interfaces forreceiving and/or transmitting image data.

Several example embodiments are provided of optical assemblies thatinclude one of a multitude of positive focal length lens attachmentoptions, which may be provided as a lens attachment module m1 as in FIG.27A, or module m124, module m125 or module m126 as in the exampleembodiments that are schematically illustrated at FIGS. 24A-24C, 25A-25Cor 26A-26C, respectively. Further example lens attachment modules aredescribed herein with reference to FIGS. 18-23 and Tables 14-19,including examples of first lens groups G114-G122, respectively, whereinthe “first” lens group is disposed between the object and the other sixlens groups, i.e., closest to the object of the seven lens groups, anddisposed on the object end of the core zoom module m2 as in FIG. 27A, ormodule m224, module m225 or module m226 as in FIGS. 24A-24C, 25A-25C and26A-26C, respectively. Further example lens attachment modules aredescribed herein with reference to FIG. 27G, including example lensattachment modules m127, m128, m129, m130, m131, m132 and m133 which maybe configured in accordance with any of the examples set forth at Table23. Optical assemblies in accordance with certain lens attachmentembodiments may resemble large field of view (FOV) microscopeobjectives. A lens attachment module m1 as in FIG. 27A may be configuredin certain embodiments to allow varying working distances, object NAvalues, fields of view, and/or telecentricity levels.

Several example embodiments are also provided of optical assemblies thatinclude a zooming component, or core zoom module m2 as in FIG. 27A,including the example core zoom modules m224, m225, and m226 of theexample embodiments that are schematically illustrated at FIGS. 24A-24C,25A-25C or 26A-26C, respectively, and described at Tables 20-22. Furtherexample zoom modules are described herein with reference to FIGS.5A-11C, and Tables 1-7. Each of the example zoom modules of FIGS. 5A-11Cand 24A-26C, respectively include, from object end to image end of theoptical assembly, a second lens group G201-G207 and G220-G222, a thirdlens group G301-G307 and G320-G322, a fourth lens group G401-G407 andG420-G422, a fifth lens group G501-G507 and G520-G522, and a sixth lensgroup G601-G607 and G620-G622. Further zoom module examples aredescribed herein with reference to FIG. 27E including examples of corezoom modules m227, m228, m229, m230 and m231. Zoom modules m2 as in FIG.27A in accordance with certain embodiments include afocal zoom modulesand provide ratios of highest to lowest magnification between 5.5:1 and16:1.

Several example embodiments are also provided of optical assemblies thatinclude one of a multitude of positive focal length rear adapteroptions, which may be provided as a rear adapter module m3 as in FIG.27A, or as module m324, module m325 or module m326 of the exampleembodiments that are described herein with reference to FIGS. 24A-24C,25A-25C or 26A-26C, respectively, and Tables 20-22, wherein the rearadapter module m324 of FIGS. 24A-24C includes a seventh lens group G720which is disposed between the core zoom module and the image plane, andrear adapter module m325 of FIGS. 25A-25C includes lens group G721, andrear adapter module m326 of FIGS. 26A-26C includes lens group G722.Further examples of rear adapter modules are described herein withreference to FIGS. 12-17 and Tables 8-13, including example seventh lensgroups G708-G713, respectively. Further example rear adapter modulesm327, m328, m329 and m330 are schematically illustrated at FIG. 27C andmay be configured in accordance with any of the examples set forth atTable 24. Rear adapter optical assemblies in accordance with certainembodiments may include or resemble tube lenses. A rear adapter modulem3 as in FIG. 27A may be configured in certain embodiments to allowvarying sensor size coverage and sensor side NA values.

The optical assembly that is schematically illustrated at FIGS. 4A-4Cdoes not have separate modules, and instead has static groups G10 andG20 and G60 and G70 as included groups, along with groups G30 and G50(but not G40) within a single lens assembly. Each of the six lens groupsG10, G20, G30, G50, G60 and G70 of the optical assembly of FIGS. 4A-4Cconsists of one doublet, such that the optical assembly of FIGS. 4A-4Cconsists of six doublets, wherein the first doublet includes a convexmeniscus lens coupled to a biconvex lens as lens group G10, the seconddoublet includes a biconvex lens coupled to a concave meniscus lens aslens group G20, the third doublet includes a concave meniscus lenscoupled to a biconcave lens as lens group G30, a fourth doublet includesa biconcave lens coupled to a convex meniscus lens as lens group G50, afifth doublet includes a convex meniscus lens coupled to a biconvex lensas lens group G60, and a sixth doublet includes a biconvex lens coupledto a concave meniscus lens as lens group G70. The modular approach,extra lens group, and high etendue are each advantageous features of afinite conjugate optical assembly and camera in accordance with severalembodiments described herein that are not found in the less capablesystem illustrated at FIGS. 4A-4C.

A core zoom module m2 of FIG. 27A, or module m224, module m225 or modulem226 of FIGS. 24A-24C, 25A-25C or 26A-26C, respectively, of an examplefinite conjugate optical assembly, may be configured in accordance withthe examples illustrated schematically at FIGS. 5A-11C, 24A-26C, 27Aand/or 27E, and may be configured in accordance with one or acombination of the example optical prescriptions shown in Tables 1-7 and20-22. A core zoom module m2 in accordance with several exampleembodiments described herein includes five lens groups, while the zoomoptical assembly illustrated at FIGS. 4A-4C includes only four groups.

FIGS. 27A-27G schematically illustrate an embodiment of a modular camerasystem that includes a lens attachment module m1 in the camera system ofFIG. 27A, while examples of lens attachment modules m127, m128, m129,m130, m131, m132 and m133 are provided at FIG. 27G. A core zoom modulem2 and a rear adapter module m3 are also included in the camera systemof FIG. 27A, while examples of core zoom modules m227, m228, m229, m230,m231 are provided at FIG. 27E and examples of rear adapter modules m327,m328, m329 and m330 are provided at FIG. 27C. The camera system of FIG.27A also includes a camera mount cm, and FIG. 27B includes examples ofcamera mounts cm1, cm2 and cm3. FIGS. 27A and 27D include flat mount fm1and split clamp sc1 components for coupling the complete lens systemsuch as the optical assemblies illustrated schematically in FIGS.24A-24C to an external fixture. The camera system of FIG. 27A alsoincludes a lighting component lc, while FIG. 27F includes examples oflighting component options LED lc1 and coax lc2, and includes aschematic illustration of a coupler cc for facilitating coupling of alens attachment module m1 at an object end of a zoom module m2. Multiplefurther example embodiments are provided for the lens attachment modulem1, core zoom module m2, and rear adapter module m3, and are describedwith reference to FIGS. 5A-26C and Tables 1-25. A modular design inaccordance with alternative embodiments may contain two or more modulesor modular components that may be conveniently individually isolated forrepair or replacement or calibration separate from one or more othermodules. A sensor module may be included in an imaging system inaccordance with certain embodiments. Other module configurations mayinclude a motorization module, a lighting module, a processing module,an interface module, a communication module or combinations of these.

In certain embodiments, pupil aberrations are controlled more greatlythan in other embodiments, thus advantageously allowing the modularityof the system to function optimally. Optical assemblies in accordancewith certain embodiments will have a system magnification greater than2× at their high magnification point.

Core Zoom Module

Further example embodiments for afocal zoom lens groups of core zoommodule m2 of FIGS. 27A and 27E may include or otherwise be configured inaccordance with one or more of the following features. Afocal zoomlenses are provided in accordance with certain embodiments that areconfigured such as to compress the pupil to a low total movementcompared with conventional designs. Optical aberrations may be tightlycontrolled in these embodiments. These together allow better integrationof a multitude of objective lenses and tube lenses that provide optimalperformance along with the core zoom. This improved total systemperformance allows for larger apertures and fields of view thanpreviously available. Combined together this leads to more opticalbandwidth, represented by an etendue value at the maximum etendue pointwhich is at the low magnification zoom position at the exit pupil of0.95 to 4.65 mm²sr for optical systems configured in accordance withcertain embodiments for use with 6.6 MP to 32 MP sensors, respectively.

A first example embodiment of a core zoom module that includes an afocalzoom lens assembly and exhibits a 7:1 ratio of highest to lowestmagnification, and an approximate etendue of 1.57 mm²sr at its lowmagnification position. This embodiment is illustrated schematically atFIGS. 5A-5C, and includes a positive group (G201), a movable negativegroup (G301), a movable positive group (G401), a movable negative group(G501), and a positive group (G601). A numerical example in accordancewith this embodiment is provided in Table 1. Three arrangements areincluded in FIG. 5A-5C, including a low magnification arrangement atFIG. 5A, a mid-level magnification arrangement at FIG. 5B, and a highmagnification arrangement at FIG. 5C.

The example lens group G201 in FIGS. 5A-5C includes two lens elementsincluding three lenses. The lens group G201 includes a doublet and asinglet, wherein the doublet includes a biconvex lens coupled to aconcave meniscus lens, and wherein the singlet includes a convexmeniscus lens.

The example movable lens group G301 in FIGS. 5A-5C includes one lenselement including two lenses. The lens group G301 includes a doublet,wherein the doublet includes a biconcave lens coupled to a convexmeniscus lens. The movable lens group G301 is disposed a greaterdistance from lens group G201 in FIG. 5B compared with FIG. 5A, and lensgroup G301 is disposed closer to lens group G401 in FIG. 5B comparedwith FIG. 5A. The movable lens group G301 is disposed a greater distancefrom lens group G201 in FIG. 5C compared with FIG. 5B, and lens groupG301 is disposed closer to lens group G401 in FIG. 5C compared with FIG.5B.

The movable lens group G401 includes three lens elements including threelenses. The lens group G401 includes a convex meniscus singlet, abiconvex singlet and a concave meniscus singlet. The movable lens groupG401 is disposed furthest from lens group G301 and closest to lens groupG501 is FIG. 5A, compared with FIGS. 5B-5C, and lens group G401 isdisposed closest to lens group G301 and furthest form lens group G501 inFIG. 5C compared with FIGS. 5A-5B.

The movable lens group G501 includes one lens element including twolenses. The lens group G501 includes a doublet, wherein the doubletincludes a biconcave lens coupled to a convex meniscus lens. The lensgroup G501 is disposed about a same distance from lens group G601 inFIGS. 5A and 5B, and is closest to lens group G601 in FIG. 5C comparedwith FIGS. 5A-5B. The lens group G501 is disposed closest to lens groupG401 in FIG. 5A compared with FIGS. 5B-5C, and is disposed furthest fromlens group G401 in FIG. 5C compared with FIGS. 5A-5B.

The lens group G601 includes two lens elements including three lenses.The lens group G601 includes a concave meniscus singlet and a doublet,wherein the doublet includes a concave meniscus (or plano-convex) lenscoupled to a concave meniscus lens.

A second embodiment of a core zoom module including an afocal zoom lensassembly that has a 7:1 ratio of highest to lowest magnification, and anapproximate etendue of 1.57 mm²sr of etendue at its low magnificationposition. This embodiment is illustrated schematically at FIGS. 6A-6C,and includes a positive group (G202), a movable negative group (G302), astatic positive group (G402), a movable negative group (G502), and apositive group (G602). A numerical example in accordance with thisembodiment is provided in Table 2. Three arrangements are included inFIGS. 6A-6C, including a low magnification arrangement at FIG. 6A, amid-level magnification arrangement at FIG. 6B, and a high magnificationarrangement at FIG. 6C.

The lens group G202 includes two lens elements including three lenses.The lens group G202 includes a doublet and a singlet, wherein thedoublet includes a convex meniscus lens coupled to a biconvex (orconvexo-plano) lens, and wherein the singlet includes a convex meniscus(or convex-plano) lens.

The movable lens group G302 includes one lens element including twolenses. The lens group G302 includes a doublet, wherein the doubletincludes a biconcave lens coupled to a convex meniscus lens. The movablelens group G302 is disposed a greater distance from lens group G202 inFIG. 6B compared with FIG. 6A, and lens group G302 is disposed closer tolens group G402 in FIG. 6B compared with FIG. 6A. The movable lens groupG302 is disposed a greater distance from lens group G202 in FIG. 6Ccompared with FIG. 6B, and lens group G302 is disposed closer to lensgroup G402 in FIG. 6C compared with FIG. 6B.

The lens group G402 includes one lens element including two lenses. Thelens group G402 includes a doublet, wherein the doublet includes abiconvex lens coupled to a concave meniscus lens. The lens group G402 isdisposed at a same location relative to the static groups G202 and G602in all three of FIGS. 6A, 6B and 6C. The lens group G402 is a staticgroup in this example.

The movable lens group G502 includes one lens element including twolenses. The lens group G502 includes a doublet, wherein the doubletincludes biconcave lens coupled to a convex meniscus lens. The lensgroup G502 is disposed closest to group G402 in FIG. 6A compared withFIGS. 6B-6C, and lens group G502 is disposed furthest from group G402 inFIG. 6C compared with FIGS. 6A-6B. The lens group G502 is disposedfurthest from group G602 in FIG. 6A compared with FIGS. 6B-6C, and groupG502 is disposed closest to group G602 in FIG. 6C compared with FIGS.6A-6B.

The lens group G602 includes one lens element including two lenses. Thelens group G602 includes a doublet, wherein the doublet includes abiconvex (or plano-convex) lens coupled to concave meniscus lens.

A third embodiment of a core zoom module includes an afocal zoom lensassembly configured to have a 7:1 ratio of highest to lowestmagnification, and an approximate etendue of 1.58 mm²sr at its lowmagnification position. This embodiment is illustrated schematically atFIGS. 7A-7C, and includes a positive group (G203), a movable negativegroup (G303), a movable negative group (G403), a movable negative group(G503), and a positive group (G603). A numerical example in accordancewith this embodiment is provided in Table 3. Three arrangements areincluded in FIGS. 7A-7C, including a low magnification arrangement atFIG. 7A, a mid-level magnification arrangement at FIG. 7B, and a highmagnification arrangement at FIG. 7C.

The lens group G203 includes one lens element including two lenses. Thelens group G203 includes a doublet, wherein the doublet includes abiconvex lens coupled to a concave meniscus lens.

The movable lens group G303 includes one lens element including twolenses. The lens group G303 includes a doublet, wherein the doubletincludes a concave meniscus lens coupled to a biconcave lens. Themovable lens group G303 is disposed a greater distance from lens groupG203 in FIG. 7B compared with FIG. 7A, and lens group G303 is disposedcloser to lens group G403 in FIG. 7B compared with FIG. 7A. The movablelens group G303 is disposed a greater distance from lens group G203 inFIG. 7C compared with FIG. 7B, and lens group G303 is disposed closer tolens group G403 in FIG. 7C compared with FIG. 7B.

The movable lens group G403 includes one lens element including twolenses. The lens group G403 includes a doublet, wherein the doubletincludes a biconvex lens coupled to a biconcave or meniscus lens. Themovable lens group G403 is disposed furthest from lens group G303 andclosest to lens group G503 in FIG. 7C, compared with FIGS. 7A-7B, andlens group G403 is disposed closest to lens group G303 and furthest fromlens group G503 in FIG. 7A compared with FIGS. 7B-7C.

The movable lens group G503 includes one lens element including twolenses. The lens group G503 includes a doublet, wherein the doubletincludes a biconcave lens coupled to a convex meniscus lens. The lensgroup G503 is disposed about a same distance from lens group G603 inFIGS. 7A and 7C, and is furthest from lens group G603 in FIG. 7Bcompared with FIGS. 7A and 7C. The lens group G503 is disposed about asame distance from lens group G403 in FIGS. 7B and 7C, and group G503 isdisposed furthest from lens group G403 in FIG. 7A compared with FIGS.7B-7C, and group G503 is disposed furthest from lens group G303 in FIG.7A compared to FIGS. 7B-7C and group G503 is disposed closest to lensgroup G303 in FIG. 7C compared to FIGS. 7A-7B.

The lens group G603 includes one lens element including three lenses.The lens group G603 includes a triplet, wherein the triplet includes aconvex meniscus lens coupled to a biconvex lens, and the biconvex lensis also coupled to a concave meniscus lens.

A fourth embodiment of a core zoom module includes an afocal zoom lensassembly that has a 16:1 ratio of highest to lowest magnification, andan approximate etendue of 1.58 mm²sr at its low magnification position.This embodiment is illustrated schematically at FIGS. 8A-8C, andincludes a positive group (G204), a movable negative group (G304), amovable positive group (G404), a movable negative group (G504), and apositive group (G604). A numerical example in accordance with thisembodiment is provided in Table 4. Three arrangements are included inFIGS. 8A-8C, including a low magnification arrangement at FIG. 8A, amid-level magnification arrangement at FIG. 8B, and a high magnificationarrangement at FIG. 8C.

The lens group G204 includes two lens elements including four lenses.The lens group G204 includes two doublets, wherein each doublet includesa biconvex lens coupled to a concave meniscus lens.

The movable lens group G304 includes one lens element including threelenses. The lens group G304 includes a triplet, wherein the tripletincludes a concave meniscus lens coupled to a biconcave lens, and thebiconcave lens is also coupled to a convex meniscus lens. The movablelens group G304 is disposed a greater distance from lens group G204 inFIG. 8B compared with FIG. 8A, and lens group G304 is disposed closer tolens group G404 in FIG. 8B compared with FIG. 8A. The movable lens groupG303 is disposed a greater distance from lens group G204 in FIG. 8Ccompared with FIG. 8B, and lens group G303 is disposed closer to lensgroup G404 in FIG. 8C compared with FIG. 8B.

The movable lens group G404 includes one lens element including twolenses. The lens group G404 includes a doublet, wherein the doubletincludes a biconvex lens coupled to a concave meniscus or biconcave (orplano-concave) lens. The movable lens group G404 is disposed closest tolens group G304 and furthest from lens group G504 in FIG. 8C, comparedwith FIGS. 8A-8B, and lens group G404 is disposed about a same distancefrom group G504 in FIGS. 8A and 8B, and lens group 404 is disposedfurther from lens group G304 in FIG. 8A compared with FIGS. 8B-8C.

The movable lens group G504 includes one lens element including twolenses. The lens group G504 includes a doublet, wherein the doubletincludes a biconcave (or plano-concave) lens coupled to a convexmeniscus lens. The lens group G504 is disposed furthest from lens groupG604 in FIG. 8A compared with FIGS. 8B-8C, and group G504 is disposedclosest to group G604 in FIG. 8C compared with FIGS. 8A-8B, and lensgroup G504 is disposed closer to group G604 in FIG. 8B compared to FIG.8A.

The lens group G604 includes one lens element including three lenses.The lens group G604 includes a triplet, wherein the triplet includes aconvex meniscus lens coupled to a biconvex lens, and the biconvex lensis also coupled to a concave meniscus lens.

A fifth embodiment of a core zoom module includes an afocal zoom lensassembly that exhibits a 6.2:1 ratio of highest to lowest magnification,and an approximate etendue of 2.88 mm²sr at its low magnificationposition. This embodiment is illustrated schematically at FIGS. 9A-9C,and includes a positive group (G205), a movable negative group (G305), amovable negative group (G405), a movable negative group (G505), and apositive group (G605). A numerical example in accordance with thisembodiment is provided in Table 5. Three arrangements are included inFIGS. 9A-9C, including a low magnification arrangement at FIG. 9A, amid-level magnification arrangement at FIG. 9B, and a high magnificationarrangement at FIG. 9C.

The lens group G205 includes two lens elements including three lenses.The lens group G205 includes a biconvex singlet and a doublet, whereinthe doublet includes a biconvex lens coupled to a biconcave lens.

The movable lens group G305 includes one lens element including threelenses. The lens group G305 includes a triplet, wherein the tripletincludes a concave meniscus lens coupled to a biconcave lens, and thebiconcave lens is also coupled to convex meniscus lens. The movable lensgroup G305 is disposed a greater distance from lens group G205 in FIG.9B compared with FIG. 9A, and lens group G305 is disposed closer to lensgroup G405 in FIG. 9B compared with FIG. 9A. The movable lens group G305is disposed a greater distance from lens group G205 in FIG. 9C comparedwith FIG. 9B, and lens group G305 is disposed closer to lens group G405in FIG. 9C compared with FIG. 9B.

The movable lens group G405 includes one lens element including twolenses. The lens group G405 includes a doublet, wherein the doubletincludes a biconvex (or plano-convex) lens coupled to a biconcave (orplano-concave) lens. The movable lens group G405 is disposed furthestfrom lens group G305 and also furthest from lens group G505 in FIG. 9Acompared with FIGS. 9B-9C, and lens group G405 is disposed closest tolens group G305 in FIG. 9C compared with FIGS. 9A-9B, and lens groupG405 is disposed about the same distance from lens group G505 in FIGS.9B and 9C, and is furthest from lens group G505 in FIG. 9A compared withFIGS. 9B-9C.

The movable lens group G505 includes one lens element including twolenses. The lens group G505 includes a doublet, wherein the doubletincludes a biconcave lens coupled to a biconvex (or convex-plano) lens.The lens group G505 is disposed about a same distance from lens groupG605 in FIGS. 9A and 9C, and is furthest from lens group G605 in FIG. 9Bcompared with FIGS. 9A and 9C. The lens group G505 is disposed about asame distance from lens group G405 in FIGS. 9B and 9C, and group G505 isdisposed furthest from lens group G405 in FIG. 9A compared with FIGS.9B-9C, and group G505 is disposed furthest from lens group G305 in FIG.9A compared to FIGS. 9B-9C and group G505 is disposed closest to lensgroup G305 in FIG. 9C compared to FIGS. 9A-9B.

The lens group G605 includes two lens elements including three lenses.The lens group G605 includes a biconvex singlet and a doublet, whereinthe doublet includes a concave meniscus (or plano-convex) lens coupledto a concave meniscus lens.

A sixth embodiment of a core zoom module includes an afocal zoom lensassembly that is configured to have a 12:1 ratio of highest to lowestmagnification, and an approximate etendue of 2.88 mm²sr at its lowmagnification position. This embodiment is illustrated schematically atFIGS. 10A-10C, and includes a positive group (G206), a movable negativegroup (G306), a movable positive group (G406), a movable negative group(G506), and a positive group (G606). A numerical example in accordancewith this embodiment is provided in Table 6. Three arrangements areincluded in FIGS. 10A-10C, including a low magnification arrangement atFIG. 10A, a mid-level magnification arrangement at FIG. 10B, and a highmagnification arrangement at FIG. 10C.

The lens group G206 includes one lens element including three lenses.The lens group G206 includes a triplet, wherein the triplet includes aconvex meniscus lens coupled to a biconvex lens, and the biconvex lensis also coupled to a concave meniscus lens.

The movable lens group G306 includes two lens elements including fourlenses. The lens group G306 includes two doublets, wherein the firstdoublet includes a biconvex (or plano-convex) lens coupled to biconcavelens, and the second doublet includes a biconcave (or plano-concave)lens coupled to a convex meniscus lens. The movable lens group G306 isdisposed a greater distance from lens group G206 in FIG. 10B comparedwith FIG. 10A, and lens group G306 is disposed closer to lens group G406in FIG. 10A compared with FIG. 10B. The movable lens group G306 isdisposed a greater distance from lens group G206 in FIG. 10C comparedwith FIG. 10B, and lens group G306 is disposed closer to lens group G406in FIG. 10C compared with FIG. 10A. Lens group G306 is disposed furthestfrom lens groups G206 and G406 in FIG. 10B compared to FIGS. 10A and10C.

The movable lens group G406 includes one lens element including twolenses. The lens group G406 includes a doublet, wherein the doubletincludes a biconvex lens coupled to a concave meniscus lens. The movablelens group G406 is disposed closest to lens group G506 in FIG. 10Acompared with FIGS. 10B-10C, and group G406 is furthest from lens groupG506 in FIG. 10C, compared with FIGS. 10A-10B.

The movable lens group G506 includes two lens elements including fourlenses. The lens group G506 includes two doublets, wherein the firstdoublet includes a biconcave (or plano-concave) lens coupled to abiconvex lens, and the second doublet includes a biconcave lens coupledto convex meniscus (or plano-concave) lens. The lens group G506 isdisposed furthest from lens group G606 in FIG. 10A compared with FIGS.10B-10C, and group G506 is disposed closest to group G606 in FIG. 10Ccompared with FIGS. 10A-10B, and lens group G506 is disposed closer togroup G606 in FIG. 10B compared to FIG. 10A.

The lens group G606 includes one lens element including two lenselements including three lenses. The lens group G606 includes a biconvexsinglet and a doublet, wherein the doublet includes a convex meniscuslens coupled to a biconvex lens.

A seventh embodiment of a core zoom module includes an afocal zoom lensassembly that has a 5.7:1 ratio of highest to lowest magnification, andexhibits an approximate etendue of 4.65 mm²sr at its low magnificationposition. This embodiment is illustrated schematically at FIGS. 11A-11C,and includes a positive group (G207), a movable negative group (G307), afixed positive group (G407), a movable negative group (G507), and apositive group (G607). A numerical example in accordance with thisembodiment is provided in Table 7. Three arrangements are included inFIGS. 11A-11C, including a low magnification arrangement at FIG. 11A, amid-level magnification arrangement at FIG. 11B, and a highmagnification arrangement at FIG. 11C.

The lens group G207 includes one lens element including three lenses.The lens group G207 includes a triplet, wherein the triplet includes aconvex meniscus lens coupled to a biconvex lens, and the biconvex lensis also coupled to a concave meniscus lens.

The movable lens group G307 includes one lens element including threelenses. The lens group G307 includes a triplet, wherein the tripletincludes a concave meniscus lens coupled to a biconcave lens, and thebiconcave lens is also coupled to a convex meniscus lens. The movablelens group G307 is disposed a greater distance from lens group G207 inFIG. 11B compared with FIG. 11A, and lens group G307 is disposed closerto lens group G407 in FIG. 11B compared with FIG. 11A. The movable lensgroup G307 is disposed a greater distance from lens group G207 in FIG.11C compared with FIG. 11B, and lens group G307 is disposed closer tolens group G407 in FIG. 11C compared with FIG. 11B.

The lens group G407 includes one lens element including two lenses. Thelens group G407 includes a doublet, wherein the doublet includes abiconvex lens coupled to a concave meniscus lens. The lens group G407 isdisposed at a same location relative to the static groups G207 and G607in all three of FIGS. 11A, 11B and 11C. The lens group G407 is a staticgroup in this example.

The movable lens group G507 includes two lens elements including fourlenses. The lens group G507 includes two doublets, wherein the firstdoublet includes a biconcave lens coupled to a biconvex lens, and thesecond doublet includes a biconcave lens coupled to a convex meniscuslens. The lens group G507 is disposed closest to group G407 in FIG. 11Acompared with FIGS. 11B-11C, and lens group G507 is disposed furthestfrom group G407 in FIG. 11C compared with FIGS. 11A-11B. The lens groupG507 is disposed furthest from group G607 in FIG. 11A compared withFIGS. 11B-11C, and group G507 is disposed closest to group G607 in FIG.11C compared with FIGS. 11A-11B.

The lens group G607 includes one lens element including three lenses.The lens group G607 includes a triplet, wherein the triplet includes aconvex meniscus lens coupled to a biconvex lens, and the biconvex lensalso coupled to a concave meniscus lens.

Additional core zoom module embodiments may include five optical groupsthat have similar general attributes as those illustrated schematicallyat FIGS. 5A-11C and/or numerically at Tables 1-7. For example, a lensattachment group, such as any of example lens groups G114-G122 of FIGS.18-26C and/or a rear adapter group, such as any of example lens groupsG708-G712 of FIGS. 12-17 and lens groups G720-G722 of FIGS. 24A-26C maybe included in additional embodiments either as separate optical modulesor with the core zoom components in a single module. Example embodimentsof optical assemblies including a lens attachment module m1, a core zoommodule m2, and a rear adapter module m3 in combination are schematicallyillustrated at FIGS. 24A-24C, 25A-25C, 26A-26C, and 27A-27G, and givenas numerical examples in Tables 20-25. Example embodiments of lensassemblies are configured with various ratios of highest to lowestmagnification between 5.5:1 and 16:1 as well as etendue values between0.95 and 4.65 mm²sr, and various combinations are provided in accordancewith further embodiments. Further embodiments may include largerdiameter and longer optical path length designs to correct additionalaberrations that may be present in high etendue designs and/or the zoomrange of larger magnification ratios.

Additional design features such as more optical elements per group oraspheric elements may be included to achieve difficult performance goalsincluding reduced optical losses from the diffraction limit and reducedvignetting compared with conventional systems, e.g., in additionalembodiments that may be variations or combinations of the embodimentsdescribed herein. Further alternative embodiments of zoom modules withfive lens groups are provided for each of at least three grouping types,including, but not limited to, type 1, wherein a zoom module includesfrom object end to image end a positive static group, a negative movablegroup, a positive fixed group, a negative movable group, and a positivestatic group; and type 2, wherein a zoom module includes from object endto image end a positive static group, a negative movable group, apositive movable group, a negative movable group, and a positive staticgroup; and type 3, wherein a zoom module includes from object end toimage end a positive static group, a negative movable group, a negativemovable group, a negative movable group, and a positive static group, aseach provides distinct advantages for aberration correction and pupilcompression. In various alternative embodiments, the middle group of thefive lens groups of a zoom module may include a positive or negativemovable group or a static group.

An afocal zoom lens assembly in accordance with certain embodiments maybe designed for very good optical correction of color aberrations. Alens may be corrected to have an axial color separation of less than orequal to the depth of focus of light for the given wavelength andaperture of the system, as defined by the Rayleigh Criterion depth offocus equation,

${{DOF} = {\pm \frac{\lambda}{2*{NA}^{2}}}},$[Smith—Modern Optical Engineering, pg. 715], for the visible wavelengthsof light, defined here as 430 to 670 nm. This becomes particularlyadvantageous for a zoom lens of extended range such as 5.5:1 to 16:1 asset forth in accordance with certain embodiments.

An optical assembly in accordance with certain embodiments may beconfigured to achieve less than triple (3×), less than double (2×), lessthan 1×, or even less than half (0.5×) the DOF (depth of field) of axialcolor separation relative to a 550 nm wavelength for a 430 to 1100 nmwaveband that covers the visible and Near Infrared (NIR) spectrums, whenpaired with a modular objective and tube lens in accordance with certainembodiments. The axial color separation of wavelengths achieved by anoptical assembly in accordance with certain embodiments in thiswavelength range may be as low as a quarter of the DOF.

Assembly adjustments of the described example embodiments may be used tocorrect the color separation for the 900 to 1700 nm wavelength range, orthe Short-Wave Infrared (SWIR). Similarly, the axial color separation ofwavelengths in this range, relative to a 1200 nm wavelength, for opticalassemblies in accordance with certain embodiments are less than 3× theDOF, or less than 2× the DOF in certain embodiments, or less than 1×, oreven less than half the DOF in alternative embodiments down to as low asapproximately a quarter the DOF of axial color separation of wavelengthsin this range.

This low slope axial color change in the NIR and SWIR gives users theability to use the same lens system for inspecting both visible andinfrared applications. The added wavelength focusing capability, similarto the higher aperture, gives added capability of collecting informationabout a specimen. As an embodiment usage example, this capability couldallow the surface of a part to be inspected in fine detail with shortwavelength blue light, while sequentially being able to be investigatedfor sub surface damage via NIR light, with or without any mechanicalrefocusing mechanism and/or software focus routine.

At the high magnification setting, where microscopy-like images aretaken, the entire spectrum from 430 nm to 1100 nm may be controlled toless than the depth of focus in accordance with certain embodiments. Atthe medium to low mag settings, the NIR may be corrected to a minimum ofless than twice the depth of focus in accordance with certainembodiments.

Additionally, an assembly time adjustment to the wavelength focus of thesystem is provided in advantageous embodiments. This adjustment, withappropriately coated glass, advantageously provides the wavelengths from900 to 1700 nm, or SWIR, to focus simultaneously across the extendedzoom range in accordance with certain embodiments. The wavelengths maybe corrected to less than the depth of focus at the highestmagnification setting across the whole spectrum in certain embodiments.The mid magnification point may be less than the depth of focus from 975to 1700 nm, and may be less than 2 times the DOF below 975 nm in certainembodiments. The lowest magnification setting may be less than the DOFof axial color defocus from 1065 to 1660 nm, and may be less than twicethe DOF outside of those values inside the SWIR wavelength range incertain embodiments.

Lens Attachment Module

Further example embodiments for lens attachment modules, or otherwisefor first, front or objective modules, may include or otherwise beconfigured in accordance with one or more of the following features.

A multitude of long working distance, fixed focal length, objectiveswith an external entrance pupil are provided in certain embodiments.This entrance pupil may be at a sufficient depth to accommodate thesubstantial internal pupil depth of the afocal zoom as well as its rangeof motion to provide pupil matching with the afocal zoom and thereforemay work seamlessly in conjunction with a zoom module configured inaccordance with certain embodiments. An objective lens may have a 16-25mm entrance pupil in certain embodiments. This pupil may be locatedexternally to the lens, e.g., by 50 mm or greater distances such as 75,100, 150 mm or an even greater distance.

An objective lens in certain embodiments may have a mechanical workingdistance (W.D.) to focal length (F1) ratio of 0.75 (W.D./F1>0.75) ormore in certain example embodiments, including the first seven examplesillustrated numerically at Table 23. Alternative embodiments may exhibita working distance to focal length ratio between 0.6 and 0.75. Someembodiments may contain other ratios that are advantageous for cost orperformance reasons. This working distance along with the large entrancepupil may be combined in certain example embodiments which provide asignificant numerical aperture performance advantage at long workingdistances for various applications such as but not limited to inspectionlines, touch probes, cavity inspection, automotive assembly, and/or flatpanel fabrication.

The examples set forth at Table 23 may include lens attachments and/orobjectives with long W.D./F1 ratio and 16-25 mm diameter externalentrance pupils of 50 mm or greater distances such as, 75, 100, 150 mmor greater distance in certain example embodiments. An objective lens inaccordance with certain embodiments may have an angular output thatexhibits in combination with the 16-25 mm pupil an etendue of between0.95 and 4.65 mm²sr.

Additional lens attachments and/or objective module examples may includetelecentric attachments, whose chief ray exhibits less than 2, 1, 0.5,or 0.25° of deviation from perpendicularity to a flat object, across theentire FOV as well as across the entire zoom range in certainembodiments. An example embodiment 19 is given numerically in Table 19,and shown schematically in FIG. 23. A compressed pupil of an afocal zoomin accordance with the example lens diagrams illustrated schematicallyin side view at FIGS. 5A-5C through-Figures 11A-11C and/or with theexample numerical prescriptions set forth at Tables 1-7, respectively,supports reduction of chief ray angle in the designs of lens attachmentsin accordance with certain example embodiments.

The example finite conjugate optical assemblies schematicallyillustrated at FIGS. 24A-24C, 25A-25C and 26A-26C, each include anexample lens attachment module m124, m125 and m126, respectively,including a first lens group G120, G121 and G122, as well as a core zoommodule m224, m225 and m226, and a rear adapter module m324, m325 andm326, each including a seventh lens group G720, G721 and G722,respectively, of a finite conjugate optical assembly in accordance withcertain embodiments. FIGS. 18-23 schematically illustrate alternativeexample embodiments of lens attachment modules including lens groupsG114-G119, respectively. Tables 14-19, respectively, include exampleoptical prescriptions for the lens groups G114-G119 that areschematically illustrated at FIGS. 18-23. These example embodimentsdemonstrate etendue preservation of 1.58 mm²sr as well as the modularityof the system by maintaining optimal optical design performance with acommon zoom module by using a common entrance pupil diameter and depth.

The lens group G114 of the lens attachment schematically illustrated atFIG. 18 includes six lens elements including eight lenses. The lensgroup G114 includes a concave meniscus singlet and a biconvex singlet, apair of doublets, and a pair of concave meniscus singlets. The pair ofdoublets include a first doublet including a biconcave lens coupled to abiconvex lens, and a second doublet including a convex meniscus lenscoupled to a biconvex lens.

The lens group G115 of the lens attachment schematically illustrated atFIG. 19 includes two lens elements including five lenses. The group G115includes a doublet and a triplet, wherein the doublet includes abiconcave lens coupled to a biconvex lens, and the triplet includes abiconvex lens coupled to a biconcave lens, and the biconcave lens isalso coupled to a convex meniscus lens.

The lens group G116 of the lens attachment schematically illustrated atFIG. 20 includes three lens elements and five lenses. The group G116includes a first doublet, a biconcave singlet, and a second doublet. Thefirst doublet includes a convex meniscus lens coupled to a biconvexlens, and the second doublet includes a biconvex lens coupled to aconcave meniscus lens.

The lens group G117 of the lens attachment schematically illustrated atFIG. 21 includes three lens elements including four lenses. The groupG117 includes a doublet, and two concave meniscus singlets. The doubletincludes a biconvex lens coupled to a concave meniscus lens.

The lens group G118 of the lens attachment schematically illustrated atFIG. 22 includes three lens elements including four lenses. The groupG118 includes a doublet, and a convex meniscus singlet and a biconvexsinglet. The doublet includes a biconvex lens coupled to a biconcavelens.

The lens group G119 of the lens attachment schematically illustrated atFIG. 23 includes four lens elements including five lenses. The groupG119 includes a biconvex singlet spaced apart from biconcave singletthat is spaced apart from a doublet and another biconvex singlet. Thedoublet includes a biconcave lens coupled to a biconvex lens.

Additional lens attachments used in conjunction with one or more othermodules may in certain embodiments have the ability to focus light from430 nm to 1100 nm with less than 3×, 2×, or 1× or even less than half adepth of focus difference from a nominal central wavelength across thewavelength range, based on the Rayleigh Criterion

${DOF} = {\pm {\frac{\lambda}{2*{NA}^{2}}.}}$Additionally, a lens used in conjunction with one or more other modulesmay in certain embodiments be configured to operate at or near opticaldiffraction limits from 900 to 1700 nm with a similarly less than 3×,2×, 1×, or less than even half of a depth of focus difference, e.g., incertain embodiments, with no refocus within the waveband.

Rear Adapter Module

Further example embodiments of rear adapters or tube lenses, rearmodules, or third modules may include one or more of the followingfeatures.

A multitude of fixed focal length tube lenses are provided in certainembodiments with an external entrance pupil, and sufficient aperture andangle acceptance to produce an etendue value of between 0.95 and 4.65mm²sr. Such tube lenses may in certain embodiments have the advantage ofa short back focus as defined by D3/F3<0.9 where D3 is the path lengthand F3 is the focal length of the given rear module, for example, asillustrated in FIG. 28. The entrance pupil may be at a sufficient depthto accommodate the substantial internal pupil depth of an afocal zoommodule in accordance with certain embodiments, as well as its range ofmotion to provide pupil matching with the afocal zoom module, andtherefore may be configured to work seamlessly in conjunction with azoom module configured in accordance with embodiments described herein.In certain embodiments, advantageous varying of pupil depth optimizationprovides advantageous robustness of use as a standalone tube lens.

Tube lenses in accordance with certain embodiments may have an entrancepupil diameter for an external entrance pupil tube lens of between 16and 25 mm in certain embodiments.

Tube lenses may in certain embodiments accept a maximum collimated fieldangle of 2.5-3.5° or greater at an entrance pupil depth of 50 mm orgreater distances such as, 75, 100, 150 mm, or greater withoutvignetting, which provides advantageous field coverage of existingsensor platforms for each given focal length.

Embodiments containing values in accordance with the above first and/orsecond examples gives an etendue value of between 0.95 to 4.65 mm²sr.Table 24 illustrates numerical values for a selection of exampleembodiments of varying sensor coverage meeting etendue values of 1.58mm²sr. Table 24 illustrates certain numerical examples of exampleembodiments of rear adapters or tube lenses with short path length tofocal length ratios, 16-25 mm diameter external entrance pupils at 50 mmor greater distances such as, 75, 100, 150 mm or greater distance, andetendue values of 1.58 mm²sr.

FIG. 28 schematically illustrates a diagrammed example of a tube lensthat may be included within an example optical arrangement in accordancewith a rear adapter module m324, m325 and/or m326 of a finite conjugateoptical assembly configured in accordance with those schematicallyillustrated at FIGS. 24A-24C, 25A-25C, and/or 26A-26C, respectively,and/or in accordance with any of the example embodiments that areschematically illustrated at FIGS. 12-15 which may have an etendue valueof 1.58 mm²sr with dimensions Dim A or focal length, Dim B or pathlength, and Dim C or length of sensor diagonal as set forth in multiplelisted examples as variables in Table 24. FIGS. 16 and 17 schematicallyillustrate rear adapter example embodiments 12 and 13, respectively,which may have an etendue value of 3.21 mm²sr and also provide varyingadvantageous sensor coverage based on the example focal lengths.Additional high etendue rear adapters with fixed etendue and 16-25 mmdiameter exit pupil at 50 mm or greater distances such as, 75, 100, 150mm or greater distance may be advantageously paired with zoom moduleembodiments or with lens attachment and zoom module embodiments tomaintain system etendue and cover known sensor sizes.

The example finite conjugate optical assemblies schematicallyillustrated at FIGS. 24A-24C, 25A-25C and 26A-26C each include examplerear adapter modules m324, m325 and m326, respectively, including lensgroups G720, G721 and G722. FIGS. 12-17 schematically illustratealternative example embodiments of rear adapter modules including lensgroups G708-G713, respectively. Tables 8-13, respectively, includeexample optical prescriptions for the lens groups G708-G713 that areschematically illustrated at FIGS. 12-17.

The lens group G708 of the rear adapter that is schematicallyillustrated at FIG. 12 includes four lens elements including six lenses.The group G708 includes two convex meniscus singlets and two doublets.The first doublet includes a convexo-planar (or convex meniscus) lenscoupled to a plano-concave (or convex meniscus) lens, and the seconddoublet includes a biconvex lens coupled to a biconcave lens.

The lens group G709 of the rear adapter that is schematicallyillustrated at FIG. 13 includes four lens elements including six lenses.The group G709 includes a pair of convex meniscus singlets and twodoublets. The first doublet includes a convex meniscus lens coupled to aconvex meniscus lens, and the second doublet includes a biconvex lenscoupled to a biconcave lens.

The lens group G710 of the rear adapter that is schematicallyillustrated at FIG. 14 includes five lens elements including six lenses.The group G710 includes a convex meniscus singlet, a biconvex singlet,another convex meniscus singlet, a biconcave singlet and a doublet. Thedoublet includes a biconvex lens coupled to a biconcave lens.

The lens group G711 of the rear adapter that is schematicallyillustrated at FIG. 15 includes three lens elements including fivelenses. The group G711 includes two doublets and a concave meniscussinglet. The first doublet includes a biconvex lens coupled to a concavemeniscus lens, and the second doublet includes a biconvex lens coupledto a biconcave lens. The first doublet is spaced apart from the seconddoublet and the singlet is spaced apart from the second doublet.

The lens group G712 of the rear adapter that is schematicallyillustrated at FIG. 16 includes four lens elements including fivelenses. The group G712 includes one doublet, a biconvex singlet, abiconcave singlet, and a convex meniscus (or convex-planar) singlet. Thedoublet includes a biconvex lens coupled to a concave meniscus lens. Thefirst doublet is spaced apart from the first singlet.

The lens group G713 of the rear adapter that is schematicallyillustrated at FIG. 17 includes four lens elements including fivelenses. The group G713 includes one doublet, a biconvex singlet, abiconcave singlet, and a convex meniscus singlet. The doublet includes abiconvex lens coupled to a concave meniscus lens. The first doublet isspaced apart from the first singlet and the third singlet is spacedapart from the second singlet.

In certain embodiments, tube lenses may have a track or path length thatis less than the focal length of the tube lens. Certain of theseembodiments may have a track or path length that is determined from amechanical entrance to the tube lens to the focal plane of the tubelens, particularly when collimated light is input. In other embodiments,a track or path length to focal length ratio may be less than 0.9. Table24 includes multiple examples of parameter values in accordance withthese embodiments. The diagram of FIG. 28 illustrates focal length DimA, path length Dim B, and sensor size Dim C for which specific examplevalues are provided in the multiple examples set forth at Table 24.

Additionally, tube lenses in accordance with certain embodiments may beconfigured with the ability to focus light from 430 nm to 1100 nm withless than 3×, 2×, 1×, or even less than half of a depth of focusdifference from a nominal central wavelength, defined as 550 nm, acrossthe wavelength range, based on the Rayleigh Criterion

${DOF} = {\pm {\frac{\lambda}{2*{NA}^{2}}.}}$Moreover, a lens in certain embodiments may be configured to operate ator near optical diffraction limits from 900 to 1700 nm with a similar3×, 2×, 1×, or even less than half of a depth of focus difference from a1200 nm central wavelength, with no refocus within the waveband.

Combined Embodiments

While an exemplary drawings and specific embodiments of the presentinvention have been described and illustrated, it is to be understoodthat that the scope of the present invention is not to be limited to theparticular embodiments discussed. Thus, the embodiments shall beregarded as illustrative rather than restrictive, and it should beunderstood that variations may be made in those embodiments by workersskilled in the arts without departing from the scope of the presentinvention.

For example, lens assemblies for finite conjugate systems that exhibitminimal optical quality loss and/or less than 10% vignetting and variousspecific etendue values between 0.95 and 4.65 mm²sr are includedembodiments. Alternative embodiments may include different amounts ofcollimated spacing between the lenses of the first and second lensgroups that are disposed consecutively at an object end of an opticalassembly that includes a lens attachment and a zooming component. Theremay also be different amounts of collimated spacing between the lensesof the sixth and seventh lens groups that are disposed consecutively atan image end of an optical assembly that includes a zooming componentand a rear adapter. A lens attachment module in accordance with certainalternative embodiments may include one or more positive and/or negativegroups. A rear adapter module in accordance with certain alternativeembodiments may include one or more positive or negative groups.

Combinations of the components illustrated schematically in FIGS.27A-27G together form further example embodiments of optical systemsincluding several example embodiments of a high etendue finite conjugatezoom lens system having a modular nature and comprising an objectivelens or lens attachment module m127, m128, m129, m130, m131, m132, m133including a positive lens group and configured in accordance with theexamples set forth at Table 23, a core zoom module m227, m228, m229,m230, m231 with five lens groups, a tube lens or rear adapter modulem327, m328, m329, m330 with a positive lens group and configured inaccordance with the examples of Table 24, and wherein example opticalsystems may include one or more illumination, motorization, mount,and/or focus modules.

Combinations of any of the example lens attachment modules, core zoommodules and/or rear adapter modules described with reference to FIGS.5A-26C and 28 and Tables 1-22, as well as combinations with the exampleembodiments and components described with reference to FIGS. 27A-27G, aswell as combinations with embodiments characterizable as subtlemodifications of any of the aforementioned embodiments, may formadditional embodiments. Subtle modifications may include changing acurvature of a surface slightly, even to interchange mildly convex,planar and/or mildly concave surfaces, flipping a meniscus from convexto concave or concave to convex, adding or removing a meniscus or movinga meniscus to a different location such as to face the other side of anadjacent lens, separating a doublet into two singlets, separating atriplet into a doublet and a singlet, or into three singlets, orcoupling two singlets into a doublet, or coupling a doublet and asinglet or three singlets into a triplet.

The zoom module m2 may include more or less than five groups. Theexample positive static groups G201-G207 and G220-G222 may furtherinclude one or more lenses of a lens attachment assembly, or a lensattachment module m1 may further include one or more lenses or lenselements of an example static group G201-G207 or G220-G222. The examplepositive static groups G601-G607 and G620-G622 may further include oneor more lenses of a rear adapter optical assembly, or a rear adapteroptical assembly or rear adapter module m3 may further include one ormore lenses or lens elements of an example static group G601-G607 orG620-G622. That is, all or part of a lens attachment optical assemblysuch as any of lens groups G114-G122 and/or a rear adapter opticalassembly such as any of lens groups G708-G713 or G720-G722 may be addedto a zoom module m2, such as to increase the number of lens groups ofthe zoom module m2 from five groups to six groups or seven groups.Alternatively, all or part of a lens group, such as any of examplegroups G201-G207 or G220-G222 described and illustrated schematically atany of FIGS. 5A-11C and 24A-26C as being disposed, respectively, at theobject end of a zoom module m2, m224-m231, and/or a group G601-G607 orG620-G622 described and illustrated schematically at any of FIGS. 5A-11Cand 24A-26C as being disposed at the image end of a zoom module m2,m224-m231, may be removed from the zoom module and added to the lensattachment module m1 and/or rear adapter module m3, such as to reducethe number of lens groups of the zoom module m2 from five groups, as inseveral described examples, to four groups or three groups.

In addition, in methods that may be performed according to embodimentsdescribed herein and that may have been described above, the operationshave been described in selected typographical sequences. However, thesequences have been selected and so ordered for typographicalconvenience and are not intended to imply any particular order forperforming the operations, except for those where a particular order maybe expressly set forth or where those of ordinary skill in the art maydeem a particular order to be necessary.

A group of items linked with the conjunction “and” in the abovespecification should not be read as requiring that each and every one ofthose items be present in the grouping in accordance with allembodiments of that grouping, as various embodiments will have one ormore of those elements replaced with one or more others. Furthermore,although items, elements or components of the invention may be describedor claimed in the singular, the plural is contemplated to be within thescope thereof unless limitation to the singular is explicitly stated orclearly understood as necessary by those of ordinary skill in the art.

The presence of broadening words and phrases such as “one or more,” “atleast,” “but not limited to” or other such phrases in some instancesshall not be read to mean that the narrower case is intended or requiredin instances where such broadening phrases may be absent. The use of theterms “camera” and “optical assembly” and “module” and “lens group” donot imply that the components or functionality described or provided inexample claims as part of a camera, assembly, module, or lens group areall configured in a common package. Indeed, any or all of the variouscomponents of a camera (e.g., optical assembly and image sensor), anoptical assembly (e.g., including a lens attachment, a zooming componentand a rear adapter and/or a lens attachment lens group, a zoomingcomponent including five lens groups and a rear adapter lens groupand/or a lens attachment module, a zoom module and a rear adaptermodule), a module and/or a lens group may be combined in a singlepackage or separately disposed or maintained and may further bemanufactured, assembled and/or distributed at or through multiplelocations.

Different materials may be used to form the lenses of the opticalassemblies of the several embodiments. For example, various kinds ofglass and/or transparent plastic or polymeric materials may be used thatare not limited to those identified in example optical prescriptiontables, such as in Tables 1-22 at the 4^(th) and 5^(th) columns from theleft. Examples include polyimides. Among the polymeric materials arehigh refractive index polymers, or HRIPs, with refractive indicestypically above 1.5 (see, e.g., Hung-Ju Yen and Guey-Sheng Liou (2010).“A facile approach towards optically isotropic, colorless, andthermoplastic polyimidothioethers with high refractive index”. J. Mater.Chem. 20 (20): 4080; H. Althues, J. Henle and S. Kaskel (2007).“Functional inorganic nanofillers for transparent polymers”. Chem. Soc.Rev. 9 (49): 1454-65; Akhmad Herman Yuwono, Binghai Liu, Junmin Xue,John Wang, Hendry Izaac Elim, Wei Ji, Ying Li and Timothy John White(2004). “Controlling the crystallinity and nonlinear optical propertiesof transparent TiO2—PMMA nanohybrids”. J. Mater. Chem. 14 (20): 2978;Naoaki Suzuki, Yasuo Tomita, Kentaroh Ohmori, Motohiko Hidaka andKatsumi Chikama (2006). “Highly transparent ZrO2 nanoparticle-dispersedacrylate photopolymers for volume holographic recording”. Opt. Express14 (26): 012712, which are incorporated by reference).

Optical image stabilization techniques may be included in a microscopeand/or digital still and/or video camera in accordance with certainembodiments. For examples, techniques described at U.S. Pat. Nos.8,649,628, 8,649,627, 8,417,055, 8,351,726, 8,264,576, 8,212,882,8,593,542, 8,509,496, 8,363,085, 8,330,831, 8,648,959, 8,637,961,8,587,666, 8,604,663, 8,521,017, 8,508,652, 8,358,925, 8,199,222,8,135,184 and 8,184,967, and US published patent applications nos.2012/0207347, 2012/0206618, 2013/0258140, 2013/0201392, 2013/0077945,2013/0076919, 2013/0070126, 2012/0019613, 2012/0120283, and 2013/0075237which are hereby incorporated by reference, may be used.

Additionally, the various embodiments set forth herein are described interms of exemplary schematic diagrams and other illustrations. As willbe apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art after reading thisdocument, the illustrated embodiments and their various alternatives maybe implemented without confinement to the illustrated examples. Forexample, schematic diagrams and their accompanying description shouldnot be construed as mandating a particular architecture orconfiguration.

Optical assemblies are described in various embodiments through thisspecification and illustrated in the drawings and tables. Microscopesand digital stills cameras and digital video cameras and other mobiledevices or laboratory devices or research devices or optical systems inaccordance with several further embodiments may include the opticalassemblies therein. Several examples of cameras that can be efficientlymanufactured include image sensor modules coupled with opticalassemblies in accordance with embodiments described herein. Certainoptical parts of the camera or optical assembly such as one or morelenses, mirrors and/or apertures, a shutter, a housing or barrel forholding certain optics, a lens or a lens barrel, or other optic such asa mirror, polarizer, modulator, diffuser, light source, secondarysensor, accelerometer, gyroscope, power connection, a data storage chip,a microprocessor, a wired or wireless transmission/reception connectionand/or receiver/transmitter, or housing alignment and/or coupling pinsor recesses or other such structures may be included in certainembodiments even if they have not been specifically described orillustrated herein. It is noted that in certain embodiments, a shutteris included, while other camera embodiments do not have a shutter. Oneof several lighting techniques may be used with these cameraembodiments. They include but are not limited to oblique illumination,ring lighting, epi-illumination, or back lighting. Such lightingtechniques may be used as a constant light source or a flash or strobetechnique may be used. These techniques may be used independently or incombination with any embodiment described herein.

In certain embodiments, a significantly wider field of view may bedesired in one dimension than in another and a wide field of view may bedesired in only one dimension. In such cases, some of the principlesdescribed herein can be reduced to cylindrical applications of any ofthe spherical examples provided.

In addition, all references and products cited above and below herein,as well as the background, abstract, tables and brief descriptions ofthe drawings and tables, are all incorporated by reference into thedetailed description as disclosing alternative embodiments. Severalembodiments of microscopes, optical assemblies and cameras have beendescribed herein and schematically illustrated by way of examplephysical, electronic and optical architectures. Other embodiments offeatures and components of microscopes, optical assemblies and camerasthat may be included within alternative embodiments, may be described atone or a combination of U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,443,597, 7,768,574, 7,593,636,7,566,853, 9,091,843, 9,316,808, 8,005,268, 8,014,662, 8,090,252,8,004,780, 7,920,163, 7,747,155, 7,368,695, 7,095,054, 6,888,168,6,583,444, and/or 5,882,221, and/or US published patent applicationsnos. 2014/0028887, 2014/0043525, 2012/0063761, 2011/0317013,2011/0255182, 2011/0274423, 2009/0212381, 2009/0023249, 2008/0296717,2008/0099900, 2008/0029879, and/or 2005/0082653. All of these patentsand published patent applications are incorporated by reference.

U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,593,636, 7,768,574, 7,807,508 and 7,244,056 which areincorporated by reference describe examples of structures where theelectrical height of a camera device is nested within the optical heightto decrease the physical height. An advantageously compact opticalassembly or module or lens group thereof, as well as microscopes andstill and video cameras and other mobile devices, and laboratory andresearch equipment are provided herein in alternative embodiments.

US2013/0242080 which is also incorporated by reference describesexamples of imaging systems including optical assemblies and sensors andcamera modules disposed within watertight compartments. A mechanism maybe provided for optical and/or electrical and/or wireless communicationof image data that does not involve breaking the watertight seal of thehousing within which one or more imaging components resides.

I claim:
 1. A lens assembly, comprising a lens attachment moduleconsisting of two consecutive spaced-apart lens elements configured as,from object end to image end, a doublet and a triplet, and that isconfigured to be disposed along an optical path between an object and azoom module as part of a zoom lens system that has a magnification rangebetween 0.68.times.-4.8.times.
 2. The lens assembly of claim 1, whereinsaid doublet comprises a biconcave lens coupled to a biconvex lens. 3.The lens assembly of claim 1, wherein the triplet comprises a biconvexlens coupled to an object-facing surface of a biconcave lens, and aconvex meniscus coupled to an image facing surface of said biconcavelens.
 4. A camera, comprising: a lens assembly as set forth at claim 1;an image sensor disposed at an image plane of the lens assembly forcapturing images; and a display or interface for communicating with anexternal display, or both, for displaying the images captured at theimage sensor.
 5. A lens assembly, comprising a lens attachment modulethat includes three or more spaced-apart lens elements including, fromobject end to image end, a doublet and two or more singlets, and that isconfigured to be disposed along an optical path between an object and azoom module as part of a zoom lens system that has a magnification rangebetween 0.34.times.-2.4.times, wherein said doublet comprises a biconvexlens coupled to a biconcave lens, and the two or more singlets include aconvex meniscus and a biconvex singlet.
 6. The lens assembly of claim 5,wherein said doublet comprises a biconvex lens coupled to a concavemeniscus, and the two or more singlets include two concave meniscussinglets.
 7. The lens assembly of claim 5, wherein the lens assemblyexhibits a 50-100 mm field.
 8. A camera, comprising: a lens assembly asset forth at claim 5; an image sensor disposed at an image plane of thelens assembly for capturing images; and a display or interface forcommunicating with an external display, or both, for displaying theimages captured at the image sensor.
 9. A lens assembly, comprising alens attachment module that includes three or more spaced-apart lenselements including two doublets and one or more singlets, and that isconfigured to be disposed along an optical path between an object and azoom module as part of a zoom lens system that has a magnification rangebetween 2.72.times.-19.2.times.
 10. The lens assembly of claim 9,comprising a biconcave singlet disposed between said two doublets. 11.The lens assembly of claim 10, wherein said two doublets include a firstdoublet comprising a convex meniscus coupled to a biconvex lens, and asecond doublet comprising a biconvex lens coupled to a concave meniscus.12. The lens assembly of claim 9, wherein said two doublets are disposedconsecutively between a first pair of object-side singlets and a secondpair of image-side singlets.
 13. The lens assembly of claim 12, whereinsaid first pair of object-side singlets comprise a convex meniscus and abiconvex lens, and said second pair of image-side singlets comprise apair of concave meniscus singlets.
 14. The lens assembly of claim 9,wherein the lens assembly exhibits a 12.5-33.3 mm field.
 15. A camera,comprising: a lens assembly as set forth at claim 9; an image sensordisposed at an image plane of the lens assembly for capturing images;and a display or interface for communicating with an external display,or both, for displaying the images captured at the image sensor.
 16. Alens assembly, comprising a lens attachment module that includes four ormore spaced-apart lens elements disposed along an optical path of thelens assembly, including from object end to image end, a biconvexsinglet, a biconcave singlet, a doublet comprising a biconcave lenscoupled to a biconvex lens, and a third singlet comprising a biconvexlens, and that is configured to be disposed along an optical pathbetween an object and a zoom module as part of a zoom lens system.
 17. Acamera, comprising: a lens assembly as set forth at claim 16; an imagesensor disposed at an image plane of the lens assembly for capturingimages; and a display or interface for communicating with an externaldisplay, or both, for displaying the images captured at the imagesensor.
 18. The lens assembly of claim 16, comprising a fourth singletdisposed along said optical path on an image-facing side of the thirdsinglet.